A Lubbock man injured in a car crash when his vehicle was struck by a vehicle driven by Suzanne Tuberville has died.
Ira Purdy died Friday.
Suzanne Tuberville is the wife of Texas Tech head football coach Tommy Tuberville.
Bradley Pettit, a Lubbock attorney representing the Purdy family, said Purdy died of injuries related to the Nov. 1 accident.
“The medical examiner was called in, they’re reviewing the case and we’re waiting for their findings. We’re very confident they will find that he died as a result of the injuries from the Nov. 1 accident,” said Pettit.
“He was 87 and he had a significant head injury, a broken leg, broken ribs … he just never recovered,” said Pettit.
The Tubervilles declined an interview with a reporter for The Avalanche-Journal.
Blayne Beal, Tech athletic department spokesman, said the only comment the Tubervilles have is offering their condolences to the Purdy family.
Pettit said a claim has been submitted with Suzanne Tuberville’s insurance company and “we’re hopeful we’ll be able to resolve it with them,” adding if it’s not resolved, he’d expect to file a civil case.
Pettit also said a citation had been issued to Suzanne Tuberville.
However, Sgt. Jonathan Stewart with the Lubbock Police Department said there was no citation given at the scene of the crash, and he is not aware of any citations issued after the crash.
Stewart said the investigation is ongoing, and no charges have been filed.
The Avalanche-Journal’s call to the Lubbock County Medical Examiner’s Office was not returned immediately Tuesday afternoon. Stewart said he did not know when autopsy results would be released.
After the crash in November, Stewart said Suzanne Tubervulle was driving southbound on Slide Road when she ran a red light and struck the vehicle driven by Nelda Purdy, 73. Ira Purdy was a passenger in the vehicle, which was traveling eastbound on 57th Street and turning onto Slide Road.
Both Purdys were taken to Covenant Medical Center.
The attorney said Ira Purdy was in “Covenant for a week” following the accident before transferring to a rehabilitation facility.
He could stay in the rehab facility 100 days and was there until Feb. 14, Pettit said, then moved to an assisted living center.
“He never got to go home,” said Pettit.
“He was in good condition before the accident. (The Purdys) went out to eat that day, they took trips, they had an active lifestyle. But he went downhill since the accident. He couldn’t get over the injuries. It’s hard at that age when you have that kind of head trauma … you don’t heal as you do as a younger person,” said Pettit.
When asked if the Tubervilles had contacted the family, Pettit said no, but added, “That’s not unusual. In fairness to them, they’ve probably been instructed not to reach out by their lawyers and insurance company. That’s normal instruction.”
Article source: http://lubbockonline.com/local-news/2012-02-21/man-hit-suzanne-tubervilles-vehicle-dies-almost-four-months-after