Family of El Paso cement truck driver killed in runaway crash caught on video sues 3 companies
EL PASO, Texas -- It has been three weeks since 46-year-old Ricardo Moreno Esparza lost his life on Trasmountain Road and Loop 375, after the runaway cement truck he was driving crashed into a semi-truck - with the whole incident captured on video. Esparza was pronounced dead on scene, and since then a plethora of questions surround that fateful crash. His family is now seeking answers and financial compensation in a lawsuit filed against three companies.
According to the lawsuit, those companies are liable for the crash. The document states the cement truck was owned by RCTL, it was used by El Paso-ceasd construction company Aztec Ready Mix, and Esparza was driving it after being hired by T&T Staffing.
In the suit, RCTL is accused of negligent maintenance, inspection, and allowing of use of the vehicle. Aztec Ready Mix is accused of negligent maintenance and inspection. Lastly, T&T staffing is accused by attorneys for the family of 'gross negligence.'
The family is seeking financial compensation for the loss of Esparza in a sum that at minimum would equal $1 million. The family is also seeking a jury trial for this lawsuit.
In their legal response, T&T says they specifically deny any responsibility for punitive damages. The firm's attorney told ABC-7: "We are not going to comment on an ongoing case. It is very early on and there are some things that need to be looked into," adding that the family's lawyer made "premature comments" and accusations.
ABC-7 filed an open records request with the Texas Department of Public Safety about the crash, but the agency says they have no records about it to release. ABC-7 has filed a similar record with the El Paso Police Department, and it remains pending.
