Family of late teen beauty titlist sue over fatal vehicular smashup

The parents and family members of the late teen beauty titlist Vinae Teofilia Deleon Guerrero have filed a lawsuit for her death in last year’s vehicular accident in Gualo Rai.

Nadine and Vicente Deleon Guerrero, parents of Vinae, some family members, and Vinae’s estate and heirs sued the driver, Rabiul Islam, Pacific Drilling Ltd., Mid-Pac Micronesia, Bisnes Mami Inc., and 100 unnamed co-defendants.

Islam and the 100 unnamed co-defendants are reportedly employees and agents of Pacific Drilling, Mid-Pac Micronesia, and Bisnis Mami.

The plaintiffs, through counsel Joseph Iacopino and Colin Thompson, sued the defendants for negligence, wrongful death, and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

The plaintiffs asked the Superior Court to order the defendants to pay them damages, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.

The lawyers stated in the complaint that on May 20, 2007, the defendants were operating a boom truck northbound along Middle Road near the intersection of Espana Street while Vinae was operating a Honda Civic car westbound along Espana Street.

The defendants were allegedly careless in driving the boom truck, preventing them from colliding with Vinae’s car.

“As a direct legal result of the negligence, carelessness, recklessness and wrongful conduct of the defendants and each of them, Vinae sustained serious injuries from which she could not survive and, as a result of which, her life ended on May 20, 2007,” said the attorneys in the complaint.

The lawyers said the plaintiffs are informed that the defendants allowed the operation of the boom truck with a speedometer and brakes that were not functioning properly.

They said Vinae’s mother and minor sister were also traveling on a vehicle on Middle Road approaching the intersection when they saw the boom truck crash into Vinae’s car.

In its report after the accident, the Department of Public Safety stated that Vinae was driving her car from Espana Street and had just entered Middle Road when a flatbed truck slammed into her car.

The 17-year-old had just exited Espana Street on board a white 1997 Honda Civic four-door sedan and had entered the highway when a Hino flatbed truck (boom truck) heading north on the inner lane of Middle Road broadsided her car. The truck’s driver was Rabiul Islam.

DPS said police and medics extracted Vinae from the car and transported her to the Commonwealth Health Center.

The car sustained extensive damage to the exterior and interior on the left side. The truck had moderate damage to its front portion.

The accident happened in front of Dasom Market, an accident-prone area. The report did not say whether the truck had the right of way.

Vinae, then a junior at the Marianas High School, was adjudged as this year’s Miss Marianas Teen First Runner-Up. She was also awarded PTI Texter’s Choice, Best in Fun Fashion, and Miss Photogenic.