Tankersley Sued for Fatal Car Crash

The father of 20-year-old Aaron James Allen took his loss to the courts this week, when his attorney filed a $1 million lawsuit against Jaime Kayla Tankersley, the driver involved in a car crash that claimed his son’s life on Dec. 6.

Tankersley, 31, was taken to jail and booked on intoxication manslaughter charges at roughly 2 a.m. on Dec. 7, after crashing her 2014 Dodge Ram into Allen’s 1999 Honda Civic.

The crash occurred just before midnight on Dec. 6, as Allen headed south on N. Bryant and Tankersley drove north. As Allen approached the intersection at 7^th St., Tankersley turned into his car, colliding and causing injuries that claimed the former Lake View student’s life.

Nearly two months later, Allen’s father, James Slaughter, is seeking monetary relief under the Texas Wrongful Death Act for “past and future pecuniary loss, including lost earning capacity; past and future loss of companionship and society; and past and future mental anguish,” the petition filed with the court states.

The petition cites a long list of negligent acts Tankersley is accused of committing by means of intoxication, including failing to control speed, failure to apply brakes, failure to maintain a proper lookout, imperiling other persons by failing to heed traffic laws, driving a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons, failure to pay attention and failure to make a left turn when safe.

Slaughter has requested a jury trial to settle the matter; he and Allen’s mother, Ruth Ruiz, are the only two heirs to Allen and the only two legally entitled to the claim.

Tankersley has been given roughly 20 days to respond to the lawsuit, which was filed on Monday.

Although her license was suspended following the crash, Tankersley’s attorney, Theodore “Tip” Hargrove, filed an application for an essential needs license, which was granted by Judge Ben Woodward on Jan. 9.

The order permits Tankersley to drive “in the pursuit of her employment and other essential needs in Crockett, Irion, Reagan, Schleicher and Tom Green Counties each and every day Monday through Sunday.”

As per the order, Tankersley may not drive more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period, and may only be on the road from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. She’s not allowed to drink or use drugs while operating a vehicle.

Tankersley has not yet been indicted on any charges pertaining to the Dec. 6 crash; she spent approximately 36 hours in jail following the incident before posting a $25k bond.