JOYCE — A former resident is planning to sue the state Department of Transportation for allegedly failing to adequately maintain State Route 112 prior to a crash that killed his wife and three children last year.
Jeffrey Smith, 36, filed tort claims on Monday seeking a total of $100 million in damages from the department for the deaths of his wife, Sara, 26; and children Samantha, 3; Nathan, 2; and 3-month-old Robert.
Transportation officials have 60 days to respond to the tort claims before Smith can file a formal lawsuit.
Smith’s wife and children were killed Jan. 13, 2000, in a fiery crash after their vehicle slid on black ice and was struck by an empty log truck on State Route 112 a mile west of the Elwha River bridge.
Full details appear in today’s edition of the Peninsula Daily News. Click onto “Subscribe” to have your PDN delivered to your home or office.