Lawsuit claims Ligonier Valley police failures led to man’s death after 2020 crash
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Surviving family members of a Latrobe-area man paralyzed in 2020 car crash in Ligonier Township claim failures of local police led to his eventual death, according to allegations raised in a lawsuit filed in Westmoreland County.
The family claims that Ligonier Valley police detained Donald R. Hall, 49, outside a home on Nov. 20, 2020, and despite indications he was drunk, he was later allowed to drive away in his SUV. Hall crashed into trees on a country road near Rector and died about 2.5 years later from injuries related to the crash, according to court documents.
“This was all the nexus of a perfect storm,” said Hall family attorney Joseph Gaydos Jr. “The chance of all these things happening in one night is certainly rare. This was a real tragedy that could have been prevented anytime along the way.”
The lengthy lawsuit, which was originally filed in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh, included civil rights claims that have since been dismissed. The remaining case was transferred to Westmoreland County this month.
In the revised court filing, Hall’s children claimed the Wicked Googly at Ligonier Lanes, the bar where Hall drank on the night of the crash, improperly served Hall alcohol when he was visibly drunk. Police failed to perform their duties when they responded to a domestic call involving Hall later that night, and, despite conducting a breath test that recorded his blood alcohol level at twice the legal limit of 0.19 %, they released him from custody, the lawsuit alleges.
According to the lawsuit, police moved Hall’s vehicle to a parking lot rather than have it towed and later drove him to a local convenience store about 8 miles away, where they called a friend to drive him home. The lawsuit claims Hall’s friend dropped him off at his car and allowed him to drive home. The vehicle was spotted by a security officer for a private patrol company who had responded to the domestic call earlier with Ligonier Valley police. The officer followed Hall and came upon the crash scene minutes later on Darlington-Rector Road.
Hall was paralyzed in the crash and sustained other injuries that required leg amputation and the use of a ventilator. The lawsuit claims Hall died from complications related to his injuries in April 2023.
The 11-count wrongful death lawsuit includes allegations that Ligonier Valley police officers were negligent in administering their duties, and names the two officers who detained and subsequently released Hall as defendants. Chief Michael Matrunics on Wednesday confirmed one of those officers remains on duty with the force.
Matrunics referred a request for comment to the department’s lawyers, which did not respond to inquiries.
Also named as defendants were Loyalhanna Associates and a patrolman who worked for the private security company and Ligonier Lanes and its affiliated bar. They also did not respond to requests for comments.
Hall was charged in 2021 with drunk driving and related traffic offenses in connection with the crash, according to court records. The criminal case was dismissed following his death, Gaydos said.