Pastor Sued for Allegedly Causing Fatal Crash in Tampa
An assistant pastor is now facing a lawsuit in Tampa after being accused of driving under the influence and killing a 36-year-old woman. This is a classic example of a wrongful death lawsuit, a specific type of injury claim that may arise after a fatal accident. If your loved one passed away due to the negligence of another driver, you might be able to take similar steps. Consider discussing your options with an experienced auto accident lawyer in Tampa.
Husband Claims Pastor Killed His Wife While Driving High
In February of 2025, an assistant pastor was driving his car with a suspended license, having been arrested for DUI just one day earlier. He then struck another vehicle occupied by a mother and her three children. All three children were seriously injured, and the mother perished after the impact.
Police arrived at the scene and determined that the pastor was high on cocaine and meth. They then searched his vehicle and found a variety of drugs. This included not only cocaine and meth, but also psychedelic mushrooms, MDMA, oxy, Xanax, and carisoprodol.
The husband has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, claiming damages for loss of consortium, loss of parental companionship, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and other damages. The lawsuit highlights the immense loss suffered by the children – including not only the three injured passengers but also a fourth child in their teens.
After the incident, the Christ Central Presbyterian Church announced that the pastor had resigned from his position weeks before the accident. It is not clear how a man of God managed to fall so far, becoming a heavy drug user and causing irrevocable harm to an innocent family.
Aside from this civil lawsuit, the former pastor also faces various criminal charges. These include DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, DUI causing serious bodily injury, possession of controlled substances, and other unspecified traffic violations.
Will This Lawsuit Prove Successful?
One can only hope that the family achieves a sense of justice and closure. A wrongful death lawsuit may help them achieve these goals, and it can also provide compensation for funeral costs, unpaid medical bills, the loss of future income, and other damages. Driving under the influence of drugs is a clear form of negligence, and it should not be difficult for them to establish liability. The only questions that remain are how much compensation they can obtain, and whether the pastor even had valid insurance at the time of the crash.
Can a Tampa Auto Accident Lawyer Help After a Fatal Crash?
If you have lost a loved one due to a fatal crash in Tampa, you might be able to file a wrongful death claim. Discuss your options in more detail with an experienced auto accident lawyer. Contact Anderson & Anderson today – and work with lawyers who are committed to pursuing justice and compensation on your behalf.
Sources:
abcactionnews.com/news/region-hillsborough/husband-of-woman-killed-in-tampa-dui-crash-sues-driver
tampabay.com/news/crime/2025/04/02/tampa-driver-crash-impairment-lawsuit/
