The parents of an 18-year-old killed in a downtown Pearsall crash this month have filed a wrongful-death lawsuit that targets both the pickup driver and his oilfield employer. Bobby Chavera and Danielle Lopez Chavera say their son, James Matthew Mata Chavera, died after a heavy-duty pickup slammed into the sedan he was riding in on Jan. 17. The family is seeking damages and has requested a jury trial in Frio County.
What the Lawsuit Says
The complaint, filed this week in Frio County, names driver Cameron Brewer and Stricker Drilling Company. It alleges Brewer was driving far above the posted speed limit, distracted by his phone, impaired by intoxicating substances and ignoring a traffic control signal at the time of the collision. The suit also contends Brewer was acting under Stricker Drilling's direction and oversight, which the parents say makes the company responsible for the deaths. Those allegations appear in court documents cited by the San Antonio Express-News.
Crash Details and Victims
Authorities say the crash happened around 6 p.m. on Jan. 17 near Oak and East Trinity streets in downtown Pearsall, when a heavy-duty pickup hit a sedan. The collision killed 18-year-old James Matthew Mata Chavera and 19-year-old Gabriel Carrizales, and left another teenager hospitalized. Police accounts and local coverage are outlined by KSAT Investigates.
Family and Company Responses
Attorney Jacob Abrego, who represents the Chavera family, told KSAT Investigates, "Our clients lost their beloved son way too soon in this tragic collision."
Dwaine S. Stricker Jr., the registered agent for Stricker Drilling, declined to comment and referred reporters to attorney Derreck Brown. Brown said the company "is cooperating with the police as they conduct their investigation" and called the crash "an absolutely tragic event."
Legal Implications
Under Texas law, families can bring vicarious-responsibility claims and also direct claims such as negligent hiring, negligent supervision or negligent entrustment against an employer when an on-the-job driver causes a crash. A negligent-entrustment claim requires proof that a vehicle was given to someone who was unlicensed, incompetent or reckless, and that this entrustment proximately caused the injury. Allegations of gross negligence can open the door to punitive damages in certain cases. For background on how Texas courts handle these theories, see case summaries on Justia and FindLaw.
What Happens Next
The lawsuit seeks damages for gross negligence and asks for a jury to decide the case, with upcoming hearings and discovery to be set by the court schedule. Local police say the crash is still under investigation and it remains unclear whether criminal charges will be filed, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
For now, the civil case moves forward while investigators continue gathering evidence. The Frio County clerk's office will post any upcoming hearing dates, and court records will show the next steps for both the criminal probe and the family's claims.
