On Tuesday, three prisoners, Blaze Christopher, Larry House, and Donald Wright, sued the State of Texas in a Lubbock district court. They claimed they were handcuffed in a vehicle operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice when it crashed.
The lawsuit claimed that Phillip R. Matthews was the driver of the TDCJ van on November 13, 2015. The lawsuit said Matthews “failed to yield the right of way” in the 4200 block of Slaton Highway in Lubbock (near the Montford Unit).
The van was hit by an oncoming vehicle and the van came to rest upside down. The lawsuit includes a copy of a prisoner grievance which said the van had no seat belts.
“All unrestrained and handcuffed Plaintiffs sustained serious and permanent injuries,” the lawsuit said.
EverythingLubbock.com searched the TDCJ website concerning the three prisoners. Christopher was held for burglary of a building in Potter County. House was held for indecency with a child in Dallas County. And Donald Wright was held for possession of a controlled substance in Tarrant County.
The prisoners are seeking between $250,000 and $1 million each.
The TDJC was invited to comment, but declined.