Bar, Driver Sued In Teen's Death

The parents of a North Manchester teen killed in a 1995 auto accident are seeking damages from a North Webster bar and its owner, as well as from the driver of the car.

Jerry and Janice Bucher filed the wrongful death lawsuit recently in Kosciusko Circuit Court. They allege that their son, Chad, was killed because of wrongful acts by Samuel Stimmel and Nightshift of North Webster Inc., doing business as Cruiser's, and Jamie Carter of North Manchester. Stimmel is owner of Cruiser's, and Carter was driving the vehicle in which Chad Bucher, then 18, was a passenger on April 14, 1995.

Carter, Bucher and another man were drinking at Cruiser's prior to the 12:29 a.m. crash in which Carter's car left the road and rolled over several times, coming to rest on its top more than 500 feet from the roadway.

The Buchers claim their son's death resulted because employees of Cruiser's continued to serve alcoholic beverages to Carter, 24, when they "knew or should have known that Carter was intoxicated and they knew or could have reasonably foreseen that Carter's ability to drive an automobile was severely impaired and that Carter's impaired driving could cause injuries or death of others."

Additionally, they claim Carter was "careless, reckless and otherwise at fault" in Chad Bucher's death by driving while intoxicated, speeding, losing control of his vehicle, failing to avoid an accident and driving recklessly.

Bucher suffered massive internal injuries and head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Carter and another passenger, Michael Garcia, then 22, North Manchester, were seriously injured in the crash.

Following the accident, Carter was charged with reckless homicide, driving while intoxicated/causing death and driving while having a blood-alcohol level of .10 percent or greater/causing death, all Class C felonies. In September 1995, Carter pleaded guilty to one DWI charge and, through a plea agreement, was sentenced to four years in prison. The other charges were dismissed.

The Buchers have not indicated a specific monetary amount for settlement, but are seeking a sum to compensate for the loss of their child and other damages, including funeral expenses. They are requesting that the case be heard by a jury.

The attorneys for the Buchers are Glenn E. Davis Sr. and Brian E. Weiss, both of Indianapolis.