By Jonathan Edwards
Lincoln Journal Star
Relatives of a woman killed last month when a state-owned van driven by a prison inmate plowed into her minivan filed a $5 million claim Thursday against the state of Nebraska.
Joyce R. Meeks, 47, was driving home from work the night of June 25 when the Ford Econoline van, which witnesses said was speeding and swerving, crossed into her lane on Van Dorn Street near 18th Street. She died at the scene.
Van driver Jeremy Dobbe, 35, is back in prison.
On Thursday, Meeks’ family hosted a news conference before filing the claim at the State Office Building. State officials will have six months to respond before the family can sue.
“I just don’t want my mom’s death to go under the rug somewhere and people to forget,” said her son Martell Buchanan, 28.
Full story: Family seeking $5 million from state after death involving inmate driver