NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The parents of a Metro Police officer, who was killed on the job last year, have filed a wrongful death lawsuit.
The lawsuit named both Dean Diver and his wife, Lucille. Diver was driving the motorhome last May that struck and killed Officer Michael Petrina on Interstate 65 near the Old Hickory Boulevard exit south of town.
Petrina was directing traffic at the time after a pickup had overturned on the on-ramp to the interstate.
Diver told police he couldn't avoid hitting the officer. But the lawsuit claims Diver negligently or intentionally and recklessly ignored flashing warning signs and failed to slow down and move over as other vehicles were doing.
Diver's wife was named in the suit, as well, because she owns the RV and the lawsuit alleges she "knew or should have known" that her husband was "incompetent" and his "driving was likely to cause injury."
Officer Petrina had graduated from the police academy only nine months earlier. He was 25.
Parke Morris, the attorney who represents Petrinas' mother and father, James and Joyce Petrina, of Memphis, said they're asking for $5,000,000 in this suit.
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He also told NewsChannel 5 Investigates he's still looking for witnesses who have not talked to police and anyone who may have video from that day.
As for Dean Diver, he also faces reckless homicide and failure to yield charges stemming from the wreck. He's due in criminal court on those charges a month from Wednesday.
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