The parents of a Houston man who was struck and killed by an alleged drunk driver last month while on a first date in the Montrose area have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver, who also faces a criminal charge of intoxication manslaughter.
Christopher and Lynn McMullin, whose 33-year-old son, Joseph McMullin, was fatally struck while walking on a Westheimer Road sidewalk with his date early April 20, are seeking more than $1 million in damages in their lawsuit against Kristina Chambers, a 32-year-old Houston woman, according to documents filed in Harris County court. The lawsuit alleges that Chambers was driving a Porsche Carrera faster than 100 miles per hour at the time of the collision, that her blood-alcohol level was nearly four times the legal limit in Texas and that she only stopped because she subsequently crashed into a pole.
"Joe McMullin was a kind and compassionate soul that always wanted to help others," the lawsuit states. "On (April 20), he was wrongfully taken away from this world at the young age of 33."
The civil lawsuit was filed April 26, three days after Chambers was arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle, court records show. She was subsequently released from jail on a $50,000 bond and is next scheduled to appear in court May 31 for the criminal charge.
Mark Thiessen, the Houston defense attorney representing Chambers in the criminal case, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. A representative of Thiessen's office said he is not representing Chambers in the civil case. Court records for the civil case did not list an attorney for Chambers as of Thursday afternoon.
In the criminal case, Thiessen has filed a motion to suppress evidence related to a field sobriety test administered by police officers and a blood sample taken from Chambers to determine her blood-alcohol level, claiming those actions were undertaken illegally and in violation of Chambers' rights, court documents show. She had two passengers in the car at the time of the crash, and all three were transported to hospitals, according to the Houston Police Department.
As part of her bond conditions, Chambers is ordered to remain at home between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. and refrain from using or possessing any alcohol or drugs.
