Woman suing Black Hills firm, driver for 2010 incident

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A local woman is suing a Hot Springs-based cellular tower company and one of its former employees for damages related to a 2010 traffic crash in Mitchell.

Diane Reed and her attorney Timothy James, of Yankton, filed a lawsuit Wednesday claiming John Adam Hamilton, a former employee of Black Hills Towers LLC, acted negligently on Sept. 15, 2010, when he allegedly backed a truck owned by Black Hills Towers into Reed’s vehicle while the two were waiting at a traffic signal in the 500 block of East First Avenue in Mitchell.

Reed is a resident of Davison County, court documents say.

In the complaint, Reed claims Hamilton failed to keep “proper control” of his vehicle and operated the truck without regard to Reed’s “presence, rights and safety.” She also alleges Hamilton broke a state law prohibiting unsafe reversing. Because Hamilton was working and on-duty for Black Hills Towers when the crash occurred, Reed claims the company is also liable.

Reed suffered physical injuries and permanent disability in the crash, which has caused “great mental and physical pain,” the complaint says.

No specific dollar amount is requested in the complaint, but Reed requests payment for all past and future medical expenses related to the crash, and general damages in an amount to be determined at trial.

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