Jago Times "English Edition" Best Online Newspaper
Related Articles
Following the devastating storm that resulted in eight fatalities across the Houston area, loved ones of the victims have publicly spoken out, with the first lawsuit being filed in response to the tragic events.
Among the victims was Juan Francisco Hernandez, 72, who lost his life when high winds caused two large cranes to collapse at the Sesco Cement Plant in the Magnolia Park neighborhood. Another individual, Crosby Ware, 66, was seriously injured in the incident.
Ware has filed a lawsuit against four companies operating in the Houston Ship Channel, alleging negligence over the crane collapse during the storm. The lawsuit claims that video footage captured the moment the crane fell onto two cement trucks while workers were inside.
The companies named in the lawsuit include Sesco Cement, ASI Industrial, Lampson International, and McRay Crane & Rigging. Ware’s attorney, Kevin Haynes of Kherkher Garcia, LLP, stated that his client suffered severe head, neck, and back injuries as a result of the incident.
Meanwhile, the family of Juan Francisco Hernandez has also taken legal action, filing a lawsuit seeking accountability for what they deem a preventable tragedy. According to their attorney, Chad Pinkerton, Hernandez’s family believes that their father’s safety was not prioritized and that multiple companies should be held responsible for his death.
Described as a hardworking and loving individual, Hernandez was inside a concrete mixer truck when the crane collapsed. His family expressed their devastation, emphasizing that his death could have been prevented.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the families of the victims are grappling with the painful reality of their loss. Seeking justice, they hope to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the tragic events and hold accountable those responsible.
ABC13 reached out to all the companies named in the lawsuit, with responses pending from three of them. Lampson International Inc. denied involvement in the incident, stating it was erroneously named in the lawsuit, while McCray Crane and Rigging Inc. declined to comment. Meanwhile, the identity of the eighth storm-related fatality remains undisclosed, with the Houston Fire Department confirming it was carbon monoxide-related. Additionally, three other individuals lost their lives due to falling trees during the storm.