The family of a 64-year-old Naalehu man who died in a horrific head-on traffic collision in Ka’u that killed five other people has filed suit against the estate of the other driver.
The family of a 64-year-old Naalehu man who died in a horrific head-on traffic collision in Ka‘u that killed five other people has filed suit against the estate of the other driver.
Attorney Francis Alcain filed the civil lawsuit Tuesday in Hilo Circuit Court on behalf of the children of Richard K. Taylor Sr.: Melody K. Lindsey-Taylor, who is also the personal representative of Taylor’s estate; Richard K. Taylor Jr.; and Donnetta Taylor.
The defendants in the lawsuit are: Patricia Ingoglia, trustee of the Donald and Patricia Ingoglia family trust; the estate of Donald Ingoglia; and unnamed Doe defendants.
Police said that on Jan. 23, Taylor’s 56-year-old girlfriend, Trinidad “Trini” Ballesteros, also of Naalehu, was driving a 2002 Ford F-350 dually pickup truck that was struck head-on by a Nissan Altima sedan near mile-marker 54 of Highway 11, just to the Kona side of Punaluu Stream Bridge south of Pahala. The truck caught fire and Ballesteros and Taylor died at the scene, apparently while trying to escape the inferno.
All three occupants of the sedan also perished. Police say that 73-year-old Donald Ingoglia, a Sacramento attorney, suffered a heart attack which caused him to lose control of the car and cross the center line. Also killed was Ingoglia’s 39-year-old son, Philip Ingoglia of Costa Rica, and 9-year-old grandson, Isidora Ingoglia, also of Costa Rica.
The suit alleges wrongful death, negligence, gross negligence, negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress and loss of consortium. The plaintiffs seek unspecified general and special damages, attorneys fees and costs, and “such further relief as this court may deem just and proper under the circumstances.
Ballesteros’ children also filed suit against the Ingoglia trust and estate earlier this month.