A wrongful death lawsuit filed against the Missouri Department of Transportation accuses the agency of negligence leading to the 2020 death of a six-year-old Dent County boy, according to documents filed in circuit court.
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit are Juanita and Andy Martin, parents of the late Ryan Martin, who drowned in Crooked Creek near Dent County’s Sligo community Nov. 22, 2020. Their petition states Ryan Martin was a passenger in a vehicle crossing Crooked Creek when it was swept off the State Route TT low water crossing maintained by MoDOT.
Plaintiff’s petition alleges MoDOT was specifically negligent in the design and maintenance of the low-water crossing as well as failing to provide adequate warning signage for drivers. Specifically, the petition alleges the turns and elevation changes make it difficult to navigate the relevant portions of State Route TT. An elevation change from south to north at the crossing is also cited as creating a waterfall effect of several feet and dangerous condition as the water travels that direction. Additionally, the petition alleges the culvert at the low-water crossings was known by MoDOT to clog and cause flooding, and within hours of the drowning MoDOT crews worked to unclog the culverts.
A Troop I highway patrol report released at the time of the drowning states Ryan Martin and the vehicle’s driver exited the vehicle and were both swept downstream. The driver safely got out of the stream, but Martin was later found deceased downstream.
The allegations listed above are merely accusations and are not evidence of guilt or liability. Evidence supporting the allegation must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or liability.
