Former NASA astronaut James Halsell is at the center of a wrongful-death lawsuit that was filed Tuesday in state and federal courts for his alleged involvement in a car crash in Alabama earlier this month. Halsell, 58, is already facing charges of reckless murder for the DUI accident June 6.
Latrice Parler of San Antonio, Texas, has sued the space shuttle commander in federal court for wrongful death and negligence for the deaths of Niomi James, 11, and Jayla Parker, 13. Parler has also asked the rental company that owned the vehicle the suspect had been driving for compensation for her losses.
Pernell James, a passenger in the car, also sued Halsell on Tuesday, but in Tuscaloosa County, Ala.
A police report stated Halsell was driving 65 mph on U.S. 82 when he struck James’ Ford Fiesta from behind, propelling the two girls through the front glass.
The officer who responded to the call said Halsell appeared to be extremely intoxicated. The suspect admitted to having consumed three glasses of wine prior to driving, but police found an empty wine bottle and empty package of sleeping pills in his car.
James’ suit requests compensation from the companies that sold Halsell the medication and wine.
Halsell, known for his 22 years with NASA and five shuttle flights, is currently free on $150,000 bond.
