Wrongful death lawsuit filed after Lexington biker killed in crash. Driver indicted.
The widow of Daezon Morgan, the victim in a fatal June 8 Lexington motorcycle crash, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver of the other vehicle, according to court records.
Sondra Morgan is suing Matthew Starling for negligence, wrongful death, loss of spouse and loss of parental consortium (on behalf of their daughter, identified as D.M. in the lawsuit), according to the complaint filed July 30.
Starling, 30, is facing criminal charges of second-degree manslaughter, driving under the influence and marijuana possession after he turned in front of 25-year-old Morgan who was inbound on Richmond Road, according to police. He was indicted on those charges by a Fayette County grand jury Tuesday, according to court records.
Morgan’s estate has incurred “extraordinary” medical, funeral and burial costs, the lawsuit says. It also says “D.M.” and Sondra Morgan lost “a right to services, aid, society, comfort and companionship between themselves and Daezon Tyquise Morgan.”
Morgan is asking for compensatory and punitive damages along with attorney fees.
The complaint accuses Starling of being under the influence of alcohol and marijuana. A Lexington police detective said previously in court that Starling had admitted to drinking and smoking the day of the crash.
The lawsuit also asks for a jury trial.
Starling is scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 21, according to court records. After posting a prior $75,000 bond to leave jail, Starling was assigned an additional $1,000 bond on Tuesday.
Starling and Morgan’s collision became the subject of public demonstration as friends and family mourned Morgan. Some also criticized Lexington police for their handling of Starling’s arrest, as investigators kept him at the scene without blood-alcohol or breathalyzer tests for multiple hours. Police said the reason for the delay at the scene was because officers had to wait for an investigator who lived in Frankfort to arrive.
Some wanted harsher charges. Starling was initially arrested on a DUI charge before he was charged with second-degree manslaughter, a Class C felony punishable by five to 10 years in prison.
This story was originally published August 6, 2020 at 11:59 AM.