Jury Rules (C&W Singer) Toby Keith's Father Not At Fault In Crash That Killed Him

AP / KOTV Channel 6 Tulsa, OK ^ | 12-24-07 | AP writer

[OKSooner]

PURCELL, Okla. (AP) - Toby Keith, his mother and his siblings have been awarded $2.8 million in damages in the 2001 collision that killed the country music star's father. A jury returned the verdict against Elias Rodriguez and Pedro Rodriguez, operators of Rodriguez Transportes of Tulsa, and the Republic Western Insurance Co.

According to evidence presented at trial, a charter bus owned by the Rodriguezes was ``in urgent need'' of brake repairs before H.K. Covel was killed in the March 2001 accident on Interstate 35, said attorney Greg Dixon, who represented Keith's family.

The Rodriguezes had been advised of the brake problem before Covel's truck crossed the center median and struck the bus, he said.

The family initially suspected Covel suffered a medical condition that caused the truck to veer out of control. It later learned another vehicle had bumped the truck and filed a wrongful death lawsuit to clear Covel's name, Dixon said.

The verdict was returned last week. ``The jury found no fault on the part of Mr. Covel in the wreck that claimed his life,'' Dixon said.

The plaintiffs, wife Carolyn Covel, daughter Tonni Covel and sons Toby Keith Covel and Tracey Covel, alleged that H.K. Covel would not have died if the bus had been equipped with properly working air brakes.

[OKSooner]

Just askin’.

[stormer]

Thank you. I would bet that there was a Rodriguez living in what became the United States about 150 years before the first Smiths, Browns, and Joneses put down roots.

[RebekahT]

And I’d bet you would be right.

[Bob J]

Of course you’re right. This anti anything whiffing of brown people is getting out of hand on FR and needs to be called on at every turn.

It has and continues to give this site a black eye. People were shocked when BOR said FR is a hate site, my only shock was at their shock. They’re either blind or not getting around to enough threads.

One bad apple and all...

[Does so]

"...maybe there was no "skid mark" left by the bus trying to avoid collision..."

Just BTW: Modern vehicles with ABS seldom leave skid marks.

[VOA]

Just BTW: Modern vehicles with ABS seldom leave skid marks.

Thanks for that mention. I hadn't considered that.

But (and this is a friendly addition!)...
1. My understanding is that with the introduction of ABS, some
drivers now overestimate their stopping distance with these improved
brake systems.
AND
2. In Oklahoma, the new ABS could have been on the truck driven
by Toby Keith's father.
OR...in Oklahoma he could have had a vintage pick-em-up truck like
a 1957 stepside half-ton Chevy...with restored standard brakes, but
not with an ABS system.

I grew up in north-central Oklahoma and even with travels around
the USA, Canada, the UK and Mexicos...I do get just about as much
"machine-lust" when I see a great vintage pick-up truck as when
I would see a very cool Ferrari or Maserti in Los Angeles.

Guess I'm "Old School".
Or maybe even "Old Redneck School"!

[DLfromthedesert]

Yes, but wouldn’t the TK’s dad share the responsiblity since it was his truck that crossed the median?

[VOA]

Yes, but wouldn’t the TK’s dad share the responsiblity since it was his
truck that crossed the median?

That's a appealing proposition...and my post 10 is SPECULATION
about the case based on the less-than-stellar reportage in the lead
article.

I'm not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV...but I suspect the
outcome of the present case rests on an appreciation that Toby Keith's
father wasn't really in control of the initial AND ensuing events.

In other words, the elder Mr. Covell was forced into his perilous situation
by a third party...a vehicle that struck his truck and forced him
out of his lane and into the path of an oncoming bus that
had brakes that would have been better maintained by a "reasonable" owner...
thus causing the elder Covell's death.

Whether that's the right decision...is ABOVE my paygrade!

I suspect that some of my old buddies that went to law school
would say that
"BUT FOR"
the poor brakes of the bus...Mr. Covell/"Keith" would be alive today
or recovering from injuries.
Hence the jury finding.