The family of a motorist found in a frozen lake has filed a lawsuit against the truck driver accused of pushing his car into the water without reporting it. 

The accident happened on January 19th on a bridge over Cheat Lake in West Virginia. The motorist, Kevin Lataille, was not found inside of his submerged car in the frozen lake until January 26th. A warrant was issued for truck driver Sukhjinder Singh on Monday, March 3rd. The lawsuit against Singh and his trucking company by Lataille’s family was announced on the same day. 

The family’s lawyer, Dino Colombo, alleges that, based on federal regulations, Singh should not have been on the road that day in the snowy conditions after a snowstorm dumped more than 6 inches in Morgantown.

“What makes this case different is the fact that we believe that the evidence points to the fact that the driver not only knew that he caused this collision, but knew that Mr. Lataille went over the edge of the Cheat Lake Bridge,” Colombo said in an interview with 12 WBOY. 

“People make mistakes… but when you try to hide, try to avoid responsibility, issues of punitive damages come into play,” Colombo said.

“Not only were you reckless in the way you operated that truck, but you were so callous that you know, or should have known, that Mr. Lataille’s vehicle went over the side of the bridge.”

Singh is facing charges of negligent homicide and may face additional charges. A warrant is still out for his arrest.