MOUNT PLEASANT, Pa. — The family of David Ott, a 25-year-old who was tragically killed in a wrong-way crash, is seeking justice by filing a lawsuit against Sheetz, an alleged alcohol supplier to the drunk driver involved in the incident. Ismail Yousef, the family’s attorney, stated that they are holding Sheetz accountable based on evidence that the defendant purchased alcohol from one or more Sheetz establishments leading up to the crash.
Surveillance footage obtained from a Sheetz located on State Route 819 in Mount Pleasant on June 19, 2022, shows Cassandra Harrold purchasing four beer cans shortly after 7 p.m. She returns to the same location just before 11 p.m. and buys an additional five cans. Court documents reveal that Harrold later drove in the wrong direction on Interstate 70 near South Huntingdon Township, colliding with Ott’s vehicle and causing his immediate death.
The attorney argues that this case falls under the Violations of the Dram Shop Act in Pennsylvania, which aims to protect victims harmed by intoxicated individuals if their intoxication was facilitated by establishments with alcohol licenses. Under state law, it is illegal for vendors to sell alcohol to visibly intoxicated individuals. The surveillance video provided by the family’s attorney depicts Harrold appearing visibly intoxicated, swaying in line and at the register, making inappropriate gestures, and even dropping a beer can inside the store. Police discovered the same beer cans at the crash site and detected a strong odor of alcohol.
Yousef emphasizes that they are pursuing legal action against all potential defendants, including both the cashier and Sheetz, under a vicarious liability theory. This theory holds Sheetz responsible for the actions of their employees. The family is suing Sheetz for six counts of negligence, seeking compensation for wrongful death and survival damages. They hope that this case will serve as an example, encouraging corporations to implement policies and procedures that prevent such tragic outcomes in the future.
Despite numerous attempts to contact Sheetz for comment on the civil lawsuit, Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 has not received a response.
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