ST. LOUIS – Several families have filed wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits after a deadly crash that killed four people in St. Louis in February 2023.
A driver convicted of felony charges in the crash, the City of St. Louis and the Missouri Department of Transportation are all named in the lawsuits, which were filed April 15 in St. Louis Circuit Court and moved forward with various court proceedings earlier this week.
The crash at the center of the lawsuits occurred on Feb. 26, 2023, near the intersection of Forest Park Parkway and Grand Boulevard. Four victims, identified as 19-year-old Anthony Robinson; 19-year-old Richard Boyd; 18-year-old Bryanna Dentman-Johnson; and 20-year-old Contrail McKinley, died in the collision.
In February 2024, Dixon pleaded guilty to four counts each of involuntary manslaughter and second-degree assault and one count of leaving the scene of a crash. Investigators say Dixon was veering into lanes to get around stopped traffic, and after running a red light, he crashed into an SUV that was carrying seven teenagers and a 20-year-old.
The impact of the crash caused the SUV to topple over a guardrail onto the road below.
Now, the lawsuits not only accuse Dixon of reckless driving, but also the City of St. Louis and MoDOT of negligence. Family members claim that poor roadway design and inadequate infrastructure made the intersection more dangerous and worsened the outcome of the crash.
The lawsuits allege that sidewalk and guardrails were in defective condition and failed to prevent the vehicle from going airborne. The families argue that both the City of St. Louis and MoDOT neglected responsibility to properly design, inspect and maintain the intersection to meet safety standards.
The lawsuits seek damages in excess of $25,000 from each defendant. The lawsuits cite damages such as funeral expenses, personal injuries, and the loss of companionship and financial support.
The cases under review include three wrongful death lawsuits and one personal injury lawsuit.
The cases include lawsuits filed by: