Houston, Texas – A tragic helicopter collision on Oct. 20 that resulted in the deaths of Cesar Lerma, Marie Alonso, and their young son, Dylon Lerma, has led to the filing of a wrongful death lawsuit by their bereaved families. The family trio was aboard a sightseeing flight over downtown Houston when their Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter, operated by National Helicopter Solutions, tragically struck a radio tower.
The crash not only claimed the lives of the family members but also ended the life of Samantha Grandbouche, the pilot flying the helicopter that day. The tower involved in the incident is owned by SBA Communications. According to initial reports, a contributing factor might have been that the tower’s obstruction lights were not operational, though ongoing investigations have yet to conclusively determine the exact cause of the accident.
Represented by Randy Sorrels and Tom Stilwell from Sorrels Law, the families are now seeking $50 million in damages. In a statement from the representing firm, Randy Sorrels mentioned that this lawsuit aims to provide answers, ensure accountability, and foster air safety improvements to prevent such events in the future.
The legal action targets several defendants including SBA Communications, National Helicopter Solutions, pilot Samantha Grandbouche, and Porter Equipment Holding, LLC, which owns the aircraft. Preliminary findings from the National Transportation Safety Board have been released, yet they stop short of providing a clear explanation for the crash, highlighting only that the tower’s safety lights were defective at the time of the incident.
Amid their grief, both families have remembered Cesar, Marie, and Dylon with deep affection. Described as a warm and tightly-knit family unit, Cesar was a committed father and cherished brother, Marie a loving mother deeply engaged in her son’s upbringing, and Dylon a spirited young boy with a love for drawing and climbing.
The sorrow was further compounded by a narrow miss. Other family members, originally scheduled to join the tour, avoided the accident due to a last-minute illness. This close brush with tragedy underscored the fragility and unpredictability of life.
As the community and the Losermas’ and Alonsos’ extended families mourn, the lawsuit will perhaps provide a path to healing, seeking to ensure that the painful loss endured is not in vain, by advocating for necessary changes in air safety standards. The investigation remains active as authorities and the legal parties involved await definitive conclusions.
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