Family Sues Over Plane Crash
June 21, 2001
Daniel Lawson, a member of the Oklahoma State basketball team, was killed on January 27th, in a plane crash in Colorado. Nine other people associated with the team also lost their lives when the Beechcraft Super King Air 200 crashed into a field just 20 minutes after takeoff from Jefferson County Airport. On June 7th, Lawson's parents filed a tort claim with the State of Oklahoma's Office of Risk Management Administration, the first step in the legal process towards a lawsuit. In the claim, Lawson's parents stated that the University was negligent in its behavior, specifically in its failure to secure, maintain, and inspect the plane. In addition, the claim states that the University failed to "take reasonable steps to promulgate adequate rules and regulations regarding the use of . . . aircraft."
The team had played a game at the University of Colorado and was traveling back to Oklahoma when the accident occurred. The players were traveling in three planes, two chartered flights and one twin-engine prop aircraft. Coach Eddie Sutton asked Lawson to change from one of the chartered planes to the prop plane. The two chartered planes arrived back in Oklahoma safely. Lawson's parents blame Sutton for the death of their son, saying that Daniel was afraid of smaller planes. Sutton did comment that he asked Daniel and fellow teammate Nate Fleming to change planes, but he was not aware of Daniel's fear.
Oklahoma State's public information director, Nestor Gonzales, commented that the University was trying to work with the victims' families through this most difficult time.
Daniel Lawson is survived by his parents, Daniel Lawson Sr. and Phyllis Lawson, and his son, Ramses Hereford, who was born two months after the crash.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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