UPDATE: The family of a hit and run victim is suing the bar that served the driver before he got in his car that night. The family’s attorney filed the suit on Friday accusing Barcode of having partial responsibility for the victim’s injuries. The accident occurred two years ago on Feb. 16. William Wilson Heaton was driving drunk when he hit the 19-year-old Emily Bowman.
The attorney says that video from the bar shows that William Wilson Heaton was noticeably intoxicated and likely to drive, yet Barcode employees continued to serve Mr. Heaton and did nothing to prevent him from driving after leaving Barcode’s premises. Grady Newsource reporter Kendall Trammell found out what the family plans to get out of the civil suit against Barcode.
ATHENS, GA – Feb. 16 marks the two-year anniversary of one young woman’s hit-and-run injury. Emily Bowman was 19 years old when then 22-year-old William Wilson Heaton hit her with his truck. Heaton was driving drunk. Now her mom is helping her cope with the brain damage and move on.
Local bar owner Jeremy Miller says bars have an obligation to prevent drunk driving when they can. However, he does not think bars should be liable when their customers make bad decisions.
