Mother files suit against driver who struck daughter
The mother of Takara Davis has filed a lawsuit in Clark County District Court against the driver of the car that struck the 13-year-old on Jan. 4 while she and a group of schoolmates attempted to cross Durango Drive near Nevso Drive.
Davis later gained additional media attention after a Las Vegas police officer dropped off a citation for jaywalking while she was in a medically induced coma as a result of getting hit by a 2009 Toyota Camry driven by Lusine Vartanyan. Also named in the lawsuit are Armen Vartanyan and Armine Arshakyan, the reported owners of the Camry.
Attorneys Lloyd Baker and Christian Morris filed the claim on behalf of Kellie Obong, Davis’ mother.
They allege Lusine Vartanyan struck Davis in the center turn lane after exiting a parking lot and heading south on Durango Drive.
The impact, the lawsuit said, propelled Davis headfirst into the windshield with enough force to shatter it. Davis landed about 100 feet from the impact site.
Lusine Vartanyan, according to court papers, did not immediately stop but drove past where Davis landed.
In addition to the shattered windshield, the Camry had “extensive” damage to the hood and driver’s side. There was also blood splatter. The attorneys alleged the defendants had all of the damage repaired before it could be inspected.
The lawsuit alleged negligence by Lusine Vartanyan for failing to use proper caution and “accelerating at a rapid rate of speed” and repairing the vehicle before an inspection could be performed.
Davis was an active teenager before the accident, her lawyers said, but since then, she has become “disabled and limited and restricted” in school and relationships, and her ability to work and earn money has been compromised.
The attorneys request the defendants pay compensatory and special damages in an amount to be determined.
The jaywalking ticket a police officer handed Davis’ mother at the hospital has been dismissed.