Craig Barton's Lexus swung back onto the street after hitting Kareta, struck a street sign and crashed head-on into another car, police said.
NORTHAMPTON – The parents of Frederick S. Kareta III, a South Hadley man who was struck and killed by a car in his aunt’s driveway, are suing Springfield lawyer Craig A. Barton, the man charged with driving that car under the influence of alcohol and the golf course bar they said served him.
The suit filed Friday in Hampshire Superior Court by Frederick S. Kareta Jr. and Kathryn M. Kareta accuses Barton, Orchards Golf Course in South Hadley, and the Texas company that owns it with negligence and seeks damages for pain and suffering.
Frederick S. Kareta III, the plaintiffs’ son, was in his aunt’s driveway on Brainerd Street getting mail from her mailbox when a Lexus driven by Barton swerved onto the property on Aug. 28, striking and killing Kareta, according to police. Police estimate the car was traveling 75 to 80 miles an hour when it hit Kareta.
The Lexus swung back onto the street after hitting Kareta, struck a street sign and crashed head-on into another car, police said. Police reports state that officers who responded to the scene detected a strong odor of alcohol on Barton’s breath.
Barton has pleaded innocent to manslaughter by motor vehicle, manslaughter, reckless motor vehicle homicide while under the influence of alcohol, operating under the influence of alcohol, second offense, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, speeding and failure to stay within marked lanes. His case is pending in Hampshire Superior Court.
The civil suit alleges that Barton was drinking at the Orchards Golf Course in South Hadley prior to the incident and that the bar there continued to serve him even though he was intoxicated.
In addition to the golf course, the suit names Orchards LLC, a Texas company that owns the South Hadley facility. A lawyer for that company did not return a telephone call Friday. Barton could not be reached.
Barton is due in court on May 25 court for a pretrial hearing. Under the terms of his release, he must remain drug and alcohol free, abide by a 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew and not operate a motor vehicle.