Father of girl who died in Holts Summit crash files wrongful death lawsuit against girl’s mother, mother’s boyfriend
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The father of a 3-year-old girl who died in a crash earlier this month in Holts Summit has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the girl’s mother, the mother’s boyfriend and the girl’s grandmother.
The lawyer for Coby Durham filed a petition in Callaway County on Wednesday. The lawsuit alleges that Jessie Knehans – the boyfriend of the girl’s mother, Leela James – was driving the Ford Explorer that crashed and killed Trinity Durham.
The petition accuses Knehans, James and Valerie Courtney – Trinity’s grandmother – of wrongful death, James and Courtney of wrongful entrustment and the Missouri Department of Social Services of negligent failure. All defendants are also accused of more damages.
According to previous reporting and a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, a 29-year-old man who was not Trinity’s father drove a 1998 Ford Explorer on the exit ramp of Highway 54 in Holts Summit to Simon Road. Troopers wrote that three people were in the vehicle, including Trinity and an infant. Trinity was found pinned beneath the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The truck had flipped and crashed into a tree, according to the crash report and lawsuit.
A Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman said on Feb. 12 that both children in the vehicle were in car seats that were not properly secured in the vehicle. Coby Durham had previously told ABC 17 News that he believes if the car seat was properly secured, Trinity Durham would still be alive.
The lawsuit accuses Knehans of being negligent for not properly restraining the girl, failing to keep a careful lookout and speeding. The petition also accuses James and Courtney of improperly trusting Knehans, who allegedly has a history of driving without a license, driving without a seatbelt and speeding.
Court information from Cole County shows that Knehans pleaded guilty on June 5, 2024, to an infraction for defective equipment. A Jefferson City Police Department citation says he was accused of driving without a license on March 12, 2024.
The petition alleges that Knehans had previous issues with using safety restraints. The lawsuit accuses the Department of Social Services of not responding to previous reports of unsafe living conditions for Trinity Durham.
