A Brown County girl injured in a fatal high-speed police pursuit in January filed a lawsuit Thursday against Brown County, the Sheriff's Department, the deputy and the driver of the vehicle, according to court documents obtained by KHQA.
Mackenzie Wright, of Clayton, was one of several passengers in the car driven by Jacob Hendricks who led police and sheriff's deputies on a four-county car chase Jan. 22.
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Brianna Baker of LaPrairie died in the crash. Her family filed a similar lawsuit in February. Click here for that story.
The county, deputy John Zimmerman, Sheriff Karl Groesch and the driver of the car in which Baker and Wright were passengers, Jacob Hendricks, are all named as defendants.
The lawsuits allege that the chase was unnecessary and that the Brown County Sheriff's Office lacked the proper procedures and policies regulating when to engage in and terminate high-speed chases.
“As a result, the plaintiff sustained serious injures resulting in pain and suffering and disability,”the lawsuit says.
Hendricks faces several charges, including eluding a police officer, driving under the influence, reckless driving and several petty traffic charges. The new lawsuit notes that he was both under the influence and drugs and alcohol at the time of the chase.
Investigators said Hendricks sped away from authorities, at times reaching speeds of more than 100 miles per hour. The chase went through Brown, Pike and Morgan counties before Hendricks crashed his pickup into a utility pole.
Wright is seeking punitive damages against all of the defendants.
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