Families Sue Troopers, Bar, Roads Agency In Fatal Crash

Two wrongful death lawsuits have been filed by the families of three Idaho Falls girls killed in a car crash two years ago, including one that claims the Idaho State Police was negligent by not intensively patrolling the stretch of U.S. Highway 20 where the accident occurred.

Both lawsuits name Jay and Carol Goldman, owners of Pond’s Lodge, as defendants, contending they and their employees negligently served alcoholic beverages to the woman driving the car that night.

One of the lawsuits also names the state Transportation Department for alleged improper highway design and State Police for not maintaining a regular patrol of the area.

Both lawsuits seek unspecified damages for the deaths of the three girls, ages 12 and 14.

Killed in the early morning accident were the driver, Evelyn M. Soderberg; Brook Ragan, Chelsea Brown and Crystal Crew, all of Idaho Falls.

With Soderberg driving, the four were driving home from an outing when the car went out of control and crashed.

Both lawsuits were filed Oct. 29 in district court. No responses have been filed by the defendants, and no hearings have been set.