Estate of Melveenia Lewis v. Cooper Tire & Rubber Company & Pam's Quality Tires, Inc.
On the night of the crash, Sunday, August 8, 2004, Melveenia Lewis was driving her 1993 Mercury Villager on Interstate 10. She and her family were returning from a family reunion in Marianna, FL. Her husband, Desmond Lewis (front passenger), her mother, Marchelle Robinson (left middle bench seat), her father-in-law, Kenneth Jones (right middle bench) and her three sons (all in the rear bench) were in her vehicle. The left rear tire, a Star Fire Flightline IV manufactured by Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, separated, causing Mrs. Lewis to lose control of her vehicle. The van swerved to the right traveling partially into the eastbound outside lane of Interstate 10. The vehicle then began to rotate counterclockwise traveling back across the inside eastbound lane and into the median. The van rolled twice and collided with a tree. Mrs. Lewis sustained massive injuries and died at the scene, despite wearing her seatbelt. Her husband, her mother and her father-in-law suffered injuries. Miraculously, none of her three sons sustained any permanent physical injuries. Mr. Lewis had purchased the subject tire on Thursday, August 5, 2004 at Pam's Quality Used Tires in Orlando for this specific trip. The tire appeared to have less than 1000 miles of wear on it at the time of the crash. Mr. Lewis testified that the tire was purchased used, but that it appeared to be brand new at the time of purchase. The tire separated less than three (3) days after being placed on the vehicle and took the life of Melveenia Lewis.