Two Odessans who were injured in a crash that killed a wrong-way driver have filed a lawsuit against the dead man’s estate.
According to Ector County District Court records, Emanuel Garza and Anabel Garcia are seeking damages of more than $1 million.
The lawsuit states the couple were driving north on Highway 385 on Sept. 19, 2021 when Charles Mello, 49, of Odessa struck them head-on while traveling in a Chevrolet Silverado without his headlights on. Their Ford F-250 flipped and landed on its roof, severely injuring them and Mello was killed, the lawsuit stated.
According to the lawsuit, Mello was intoxicated at the time of the crash.
According to an Odessa Police Department report, Garza and Garcia were treated at Medical Center Hospital and released. That report also indicates that after the couple’s pickup truck was hit, it then hit a Toyota Camry and its three occupants were treated at the scene and released.
