North Carolina Court Allows Mother to Sue Troopers Over Son’s Ridealong Death

The North Carolina Court of Appeals will allow the mother of an East Carolina University student killed in a 2020 ridealong crash to pursue a lawsuit against State Highway Patrol troopers.

The 2-1 Appeals Court decision Wednesday reversed a trial judge’s ruling favoring Trooper Omar Romero Mendoza, Carolina Journal reports.

Michael Higgins was a 22-year-old ECU student majoring in criminal justice and security studies when he started an internship with the Highway Patrol in August 2020, according to the Appeals Court’s majority opinion. Higgins took part in a ridealong with the defendant trooper.

“While engaging in a high-speed chase pursuing a suspected drunk driver with Higgins in his car, Romero sped through a curve, and his “cruiser veered sideways off the roadway, knocking down a utility pole and fence and ultimately colliding with two trees on the passenger side of the vehicle. Michael died a result of the injuries suffered during the crash,” wrote Appeals Court Judge John Arrowood.

Lisa Higgins filed suit in April 2022, accusing Romero and a fellow trooper of “gross negligence and willful or wanton conduct,” according to the Appeals Court opinion.