Family Sues Hazelwood Missouri Tavern over Son’s Death in Drunk Driving Accident

On the evening of February 5, two cars were involved in a head-on collision in the southbound lanes of I-255. The driver of one car, Tawanda Jackson, 32, her son, 9-year-old Arnold J. “Jay” Jackson and passenger Jon L. Moss, 28, were all killed upon impact while Jackon’s 11-year-old daughter, Takia, was seriously injured. The driver of the other car, Newton M. Keene, 46, was found to have a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of 0.29 percent after the accident- nearly four times the legal limit in Illinois.

Keene, who was injured in the accident, has a long history of drunk-driving offenses with six convictions on file, a Missouri license that has been revoked since 1997 and indefinitely suspended driving privileges in Illinois. Late last Thursday, Keene was charged with three counts of reckless homicide and a host of aggravated drunken driving charges.

However, Keene is not the only person facing charges with this accident. Moss’s family is now pressing charges against the owners of the bar where Keene had been drinking that night, Premier Entertainment Hazelwood. Under the basic principals of dramshop laws, any owner of a liquor license can be held liable for the actions of the person consuming the alcohol they are providing. In the wrongful death case, Moss’s family is seeking $200,000 in damages plus costs.

The law firm of WWF&G represent numerous families that are victims of alcohol related accidents similar to this one. If you or a friend or family member has been injured in an alcohol related accident, please contact WWF&G for a free consultation at 1-800-WWFGLAW or 618-462-1077. All partners are licensed in Illinois and Missouri.