BRENTWOOD — Relatives of a Sandown teenager killed in a car accident are suing the man charged in his death.
The family of Daniel Hendershot has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Rockingham County Superior Court against Preston Thissell, 22, of Manchester.
Hendershot, 19, was killed Valentine's Day 2008 when Thissell caused him to lose control of his car while driving along Route 121A in Hampstead, prosecutors allege.
Thissell, driving a 2007 Subaru Impreza, allegedly crossed the double yellow line, pulling next to Hendershot and swerving toward his car, according to police. That caused Hendershot to accelerate, losing control of his car and hitting another vehicle, prosecutors allege. Hendershot was ejected from the car. He was pronounced dead shortly after the crash.
Hendershot's girlfriend, Kaitlyn Sullivan, was a passenger in the car and suffered serious injuries, police said. Two people in the third vehicle also were injured.
The civil lawsuit alleges that Thissell drove his car in a "careless and negligent manner." Thissell was indicted on a vehicular homicide charge and five counts of reckless conduct stemming from the incident. He is expected to stand trial later this year.
Since Hendershot's death, his mother, Beth, has cofounded a chapter of Bereaved Parents USA for residents of Rockingham and Essex counties. The group, which meets at the Atkinson Community Center, offers a place for grieving parents and other relatives to support one another after a devastating loss.
Contacted by phone last night, Beth Hendershot said she didn't wish to comment on the pending lawsuit.
