Sheriff’s office facing lawsuit in traffic case

One lawsuit was filed this month against the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office pertaining to a traffic accident, and another case – one involving a fatality – is pending.
In a suit filed June 5 in McCurtain County District Court, Aquanita Carter alleges that on Oct. 27, 2021, she was pulling out into the street at Valliant, near CJ’s Diner, when sheriff’s officer Richard Williamson struck the rear driver’s side area of her vehicle, knocking her into a ditch.
The suit claims she suffered personal injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering, along with property damage.
The suit claims Williamson’s reckless and negligent operation of his vehicle was the cause of the accident.
The plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $75,000. Ledger Newman is representing the plaintiff.
Records show a tort claim has also been filed in the Dec. 18, 2022 traffic accident and death of DaNella Maness, which occurred at the intersection of US 70 and SH 98.
Attorneys for the Maness family claim deputy Michael Kelly of Powderly, Texas was travelling westbound at a high rate of speed, with no lights or sirens on, when he t-boned a vehicle driven by DaNella Maness, 19, who died from her injuries.
Highway Patrol investigators concluded that Maness had stopped at the stop sign at the US-70-SH 98 intersection, but then pulled into the path of the westbound deputy.
The Maness family has filed a tort claim in the case, which means the family may file a lawsuit if the county doesn’t pay the claim within 90 days.
The county has denied the claim.