The Albuquerque Tribune continues its coverage of the wrongful-death lawsuit involving an intoxicated government employee in a government-owned vehicle. Four people were killed in the accident that resulted when the truck driven by the employee went east on westbound I-40. Testimony in the trial is nearing completion.
(The employee is already serving a 20-year prison term; this case is an attempt to recover damages from the government.)
According to the Tribune report, the government’s attorneys claim that the employee avoided work the day of the accident because he knew the penalty if he showed up intoxicated. Here is what he did instead that day (January 25, 2002):
6:55 a.m.: Lloyd Larson checks out of Super 8 Motel at I-40 and Coors exit. Calls in sick; work begins at 7 a.m.
7 a.m.: Calls Albuquerque girlfriend Lucy Apache.
7:30 a.m.: Arrives at Apache’s daughter’s home near Marquette Avenue and Tennessee Street Northeast. Uses Apache’s cell phone to call job site to say he’s sick and won’t be in. Plaintiff’s attorneys say he may have added he’d be in later.
10 a.m.: Apache leaves; Larson sleeps in his government truck outside her apartment.
11 a.m.: Calls Apache.
11:24 a.m.: Gets cash from ATM at 5600 Lomas Blvd. N.E.
11:55 a.m.: Purchases 12-pack of Bud Light at Smith’s on Coors Boulevard. Clerk reports he does not appear intoxicated.
Noon hour: Orders food to go at Laguna Travel Center Dairy Queen. Cashier says he smells of alcohol and is staggering.
12:30 p.m.: Arrives at To’hajiilee home of Martin Yazzie, asks for home of “Alonzo.” Yazzie gives directions.
After 12:30 p.m.: Leonard Platero Jr. veers off to miss Larson driving in center of road in To’hajiilee, attempts to report to local police. No one is at substation.
1:45 p.m.: Platero sees Larson at Canoncito Grocery Store in To’hajiilee. Larson appears “wobbly” and smells of alcohol, he says. Platero tries again to report Larson to police – again, no one is there.
1:53 p.m.: Larson drives west on eastbound lanes of Interstate 40 near Laguna Pueblo, nearly hitting 37 oncoming vehicles before slamming head-on into Cadillac containing Edward “Bud” and Alice Ramaekers and Larry and Rita Beller.
Source: Testimony, court records in Ramaekers wrongful death lawsuit.
Look here to see what Larson and his bosses had been up to for the preceding 16 years.