Centralia Driver Sentenced for Wrongful Death of 2 year-old Toddler | Seattle Wrongful Death Attorney

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As a Seattle Car Accident lawyer, and a Washington Wrongful Death attorney, the worst part of my job is seeing people hurt or killed because of someone else’s carelessness. It is even worse when the victim is a child. A man convicted in the wrongfuldeath of a 2 year-old toddler in an auto accident has been sentenced to 21 months in Jail. Benjamin Ernest Jones, 42, pleaded guilty to three counts of reckless endangerment and intoxicated driving.

The auto accident took place on January 24, 2009 in Centralia, Washington. Jones lost control of the 1987 Suzuki Samurai and drifted off the road. The vehicle then rolled over into an embankment, ejecting all 4 passengers. Apparently no one was wearing a seatbelt at the time.

Two other children, a 16 year-old girl and a 6 year-old boy, suffered only minor personal injuries, which were treated at the scene. And the fourth passenger, a 4 year-old girl, escaped with no injuries.

Bo Workman, the 2 year-old toddler, was rushed to Mary Bridge Hospital with serious injuries. Sadly, he died at the hospital.

Officials say that when they arrived at the auto accident, they witnessed a very tragic scene. They found Jones in the river crying. He asked the officers to kill him because he was responsible for the death of his friends’ son.

Jones admitted to drinking two beers at dinner before getting behind the wheel. His blood- alcohol content was registered at 0.13 percent. However, the victim’s family claims he was not drunk that night and do not hold the man responsible. He received the minimum sentencing term.

It is unfortunate that this fatal auto accident happened. We are sorry for all parties that were involved in this tragic incident. To help Washington families in situations like these we have authored a guide to Washington Wrongful Death cases which is offered free to Washington residents called, ‘In Case of Death: Straight Talk on Washington Wrongful Death”.