Wrongful Death Suit Filer Over Motorcycle Wreck

Wrongful death suit filed over wreck

CLINTON - A $5 million wrongful death complaint alleges an employee at a Clinton Highway tobacco outlet caused a motorcyclist's traffic death by turning in front of the oncoming cyclist.

Knox County resident Bobby Frank Poynter filed the Anderson County Circuit Court complaint against Bob M. Green of Knoxville and Smokes & Boats LLC.

Killed in the March 11, 2008, collision was Poynter's son, Robert Blake Poynter, the complaint states.

Green had consumed beer with lunch at Big Ed's Pizza in Oak Ridge that day and was returning to Smokes & Boats when he turned his Chevrolet Tahoe in front of Poynter's Suzuki motorcycle, according to the lawsuit.

According to the complaint, Green failed to keep his vehicle under control, didn't signal when turning and was negligent in driving after drinking alcohol.

Smokes & Boats is liable because one of its agents was negligent in operating his vehicle, the lawsuit alleges.