Mother of Curtis Wilson files wrongful death suit

Published 5:40 pm Tuesday, May 23, 2017

The mother of a Cullman High School teen killed in a two-vehicle accident earlier this month has filed a lawsuit alleging the driver of the other involved vehicle wrongfully caused her son’s death.

Ashely Wilson, mother of 15 year-old Curtis Wilson, filed the suit alleging wrongful death and negligent/wanton conduct, against Bradford Neal Meeks. Meeks, 27, was the driver of a pickup truck involved in a head-on collision with the Wilsons’ vehicle in the May 7 accident, which occurred on County Road 222.

Curtis Wilson was in the front passenger’s seat at the time of the crash. His mother was driving.

Meeks sustained serious injury and was flown to UAB; Ashely Wilson was treated at Cullman Regional and released. Alabama State Troopers said both Wilsons were wearing seat belts, but Meeks was not when the wreck happened near Van’s Sporting Goods.

The three-count suit alleges Meeks wrongly caused Wilson’s death by crossing the center line of the two-lane county road as Meeks was traveling westbound. Early statements by law enforcement indicated that alcohol may have been a factor in causing the crash, but toxicology reports have not yet been released.

In addition to the wrongful death count, the suit also alleges negligent/wanton conduct against Meeks, and names Allstate and ALFA insurance companies as defendants under an uninsured motorist claim. Both insurance companies provide coverage to the plaintiffs.

In Alabama, wrongful death plaintiffs may only seek punitive — and not compensatory — damages, regardless of whether a related criminal action has been brought against the defendant. Meeks has not been charged with any crime in connection with the accident that claimed Curtis Wilson’s life.

As an adult, Meeks has a lengthy criminal record dating back to 2007, most of which involves drug offenses and moving violations. He agreed to plead guilty in 2016 to a single count of first degree reckless endangerment after originally being charged with first degree attempted murder. That charge stemmed from a 2015 incident in which Meeks allegedly shot an arrow at an occupied Cullman County Sheriff’s Office Patrol vehicle.

Benjamin Bullard can be reached by phone at 256-734-2131 ext. 145.