Seabeck, WA — Early Sunday morning of this past weekend, January 11, 2014, there was a triple-fatal car accident in Seabeck that claimed the lives of Luther Wiggins-Stoudermire, 18, Kassidy Clark, 16, and Jenna Farley, 14. The accident happened Sunday morning at about 3:15 a.m.
All three teens were in a car that was being driven by a 17-year old along Seabeck-Holly Road. As their car headed along the roadway early that morning, the 17-year old driver lost control and swerved off to the side of the road. His car car crashed into a wooded area near Foley Road, killing Wiggins-Stoudermire, Clark, and Farley immediately.
At the last update, the 17-year old driver was being suspected of driving while under the influence of alcohol as well as speeding, though neither of those things have been confirmed yet. Allegedly, the teenagers were returning from a nearby party, which is also being investigated.
Map of the Accident
View from the Road
Commentary:
We all know bars, liquor stores, and other types of establishments can’t sell alcohol to minors, but it’s also against the law for an adult to provide alcohol for a minor as well. In some states, this is referred to as “social hosting” and it can result in civil liability for the “host” of the party. That is, if someone gets hurt due to an alcohol-related accident and they had been served alcohol by an adult at a social function, then the adult might be held liable for their injuries. However, every state is different. From the caselaw I was reading, it seems like Washington makes an exception for minors, disallowing claims brought by adult guests at social functions. Whether that necessarily means minors’ claims are valid, I don’t know. But, it’s something to think about, as this is an area of the law that few people understand well.
— Grossman Law Offices
