A representative for a 29-year-old woman who police say was run over and killed by her drunken husband in a Salt Lake City International Airport parking lot in 2022 has been held responsible for supplying him with too much alcohol, according to court documents. He is suing the airline. .
Both representatives are suing Delta Air Lines for the wrongful death of Charlotte Sturgeon, who died of blunt force trauma, according to the coroner. They are also suing on behalf of Ms. Sturgeon’s minor child, who witnessed the death, alleging that Delta Airlines negligently caused emotional distress to the child.
They are suing for medical bills, lost profits, funeral expenses, general damages and other expenses.
“While we dispute the allegations in the complaint, we cannot comment further on pending litigation,” Delta Air Lines said in a statement.
On April 4, 2022, Charlotte Sturgeon and her husband, Sean Sturgeon, then 38, were flying from San Antonio, Texas to Salt Lake City.
The complaint says Ms Sturgeon consumed “multiple” alcoholic beverages before boarding the plane and had at least two more drinks on the plane. The complaint alleges that the beverages provided to Sean Sturgeon by a Delta flight attendant “intoxicated and impaired Sean to levels well above the legal blood alcohol limit.”
The documents further claim that Sturgeon was so intoxicated that she did not remember landing at or walking through the Salt Lake City airport.
The couple then headed to their car in the airport’s short-term parking lot.
There, Sturgeon “engaged in a very loud and vicious argument with his wife, which caused the discomfort of several persons in the area,” the indictment states.
The indictment says security footage showed Sturgeon putting the child in the right rear passenger seat of their car and then getting into the driver’s seat.
His wife, who was sitting in the passenger seat, then got out of the car, walked to the child door and opened it, documents state. Sean Sturgeon was then seen reversing his car, accelerating “suddenly” and coming to a stop, causing Charlotte Sturgeon to lose her balance.
Seconds later, footage showed Sean Sturgeon hitting the gas pedal again and continuing to drive the wrong way, with the child door still open. The documents say Charlotte Sturgeon was dragged by the car and pinned under it.
Sean Sturgeon then drove his car and accelerated over his wife, leaving tire marks on her body. Police said Sean Sturgeon drove his car for about 10 feet in total before stopping.
After Sturgeon hit his wife, one witness said he “screamed to a halt”, got out of the car and yelled at his wife: “Are you crazy?” Before you say, “Get back on your feet now.” Get off the ground and get into the car. ”
Another witness told police that Sturgeon asked his wife, “Why did you do that?” and added, “I have to take you to the emergency room now.” He then “aggressively” picked up his crying wife from the ground and pushed her forward. Passenger seat.
Ms Sturgeon then drove to the toll booth exit of the garage and called for help. When officers arrived, they found his wife sitting in the seat in front of her, unresponsive but breathing.
She was taken to the hospital, where she died shortly after.
The indictment states that Sturgeon’s blood alcohol level at the time of her arrest was 0.13 percent, nearly three times Utah’s legal limit.
What happened after Sean Sturgeon was arrested?
Sean Sturgeon was charged in 3rd District Court with one count of manslaughter, one count of vehicular homicide, and one count of domestic violence in the presence of a child in connection with his wife’s death.
In July 2022, Sturgeon was found guilty of vehicular homicide and domestic violence in the presence of a child, although the manslaughter charge was dismissed with prejudice.
Two months later, he was sentenced to one to 15 years in Utah State Prison for vehicular homicide and up to five years for domestic violence. The prison terms will be served consecutively, according to court documents.
Charlotte Sturgeon’s sister read out a letter at Sean Sturgeon’s sentencing hearing.
“She was a strong woman, and I will forever admire that about her. She never backed down, especially from Sean,” her sister read.
Editor’s note • If you are experiencing intimate partner violence or know someone who is, contact the Utah Domestic Violence Link Line at 1-800-897-LINK (5465) or the Utah Rape and Sexual Assault Crisis We recommend calling line 1-888-. 421-1100.