LOUISA MAN STRUCK ALONG ROADWAY LAST JULY BY VEHICLE DRIVEN BY FIREFIGHTER WHO WAS RESPONDING TO AN EMERGENCY CALL
JULY 26, 2019 – written by WADE QUEEN
CHRISTOPHER PAUL MULLETT, WHO WAS KILLED IN JULY 2018, WHEN HE WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE DRIVEN BY A LOUISA FIREFIGHTER ON AN EMERGENCY CALL. MULLET’S HAS JUST RECENTLY FILED A LAWSUIT OVER THE DEATH INCIDENT OF HER SON.
A Louisa woman, who is the mother of a Louisa man killed while walking along KY. 3 highway in Lawrence County last July 2018, has filed a lawsuit in connection with his death.
Maybelle Mullett. who is individually and as the administrator of the estate of Christopher Paul Mullett, has filed legal action against Blake A. Hammond and the city of Louisa.
According to the legal complaint action suit, on July 10, 2018, at approximately 10:14 P.M., Christopher Mullett was walking along KY. 3 roadway near the intersection of See Chapel Road in Lawrence County, when he was struck by a vehicle being operated by Blake A. Hammond, of Louisa.
Christopher Mullett was transported from the roadway scene by an air ambulance to Cabell-Huntington Hospital in Huntington, West Virginia, where he died from the injuries that he suffered from being struck by the vehicle operated by Hammond, the lawsuit complaint states.
At the time Blake Hammond struck Christopher Mullett, he was a volunteer firefighter with the Louisa Fire Department, and he was responding to a call-out in furtherance to his duties as a volunteer fireman, the lawsuit says, adding that Blake Hammond was operating his motor vehicle in such a “negligent or grossly negligent manner” as to cause it to strike Christopher Mullett, the suit complaint says.
At the time of the collision, Hammond was engaged in his duties as a volunteer firefighter with the city of Louisa, which is “vicariously liable for all the negligent acts committed by Blake Hammond while pursuing his duties as a volunteer fireman,” the lawsuit complaint added on.
The legal brief further stated that Blake Hammond was operating his motor vehicle without liability insurance, according to the suit complaint.
The city of Louisa was negligent in that it “failed to either require or monitor people they knew or should have known would be operating their personal vehicles in furtherance of services provided by the city, to carry and maintain liability insurance on their vehicle while in furtherance of services provided by the city,” the lawsuit complaint said.
Maybelle Mullett has sustained punitive loss, mental anguish, emotional pain and suffering, medical and funeral expenses as well as other damages, the complaint lawsuit filed against the city of Louisa by Maybelle Mullett sums up in her claims.
Sounds like a legitimate case for a lawsuit.
I hope justice is served in this matter such a sad story.
Shame on thelevisalazer for putting a pic of the deceased in a arrested photo .
Very disrespectful. I mean why put his arrest photo. Really hope she gets justice and he pays for this. He deserves to pay for this.
So sad and just awful. These volunteer firefighters just can’t drive these days…..one hit us a few months ago. Where do they find these people?
My guess is “these people” find the fire dept. It is Volunteer….. One would also wonder if you yielded to the oncoming emergency vehicle.
A volunteer fire fighter in a newly red ford truck drives by our house with lights blaring and pedal to the floor (i live close to the pool) Right through town at approximately 100mph. I also never hear or see a fire truck leave the garage at this time…Not knowing that a kid could just out at any time! I also believe that lawrence county should make an ordinance to install a sidewalk on protection. Walking is a death trap these days..i hope maybelle gets justice along with Mr.Mullet..
Awful funny that the truck was neither red nor a ford.. 😳😳😳😳Who’d a thunk it????
WOW! That’s amazing.😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳 Didn’t know anyone could go 100mph in front of the pool let alone over 100mph!!😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳
That’s because they can’t. It’s impossible. Some of the stupid off the wall bullshit that some of you people say and make yourself believe.😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
really u think u can not reach 100 mph on that straight stretch. what a dumbass?
Lets get technical since you think you know everything ( im not saying you dont know everything but you sound like you are very well educated) Yes the truck that passes my house with sirens blarring and going 100 mph (in the same straight stretch as the pool, not in the pool parking lot, which is very possible to gain 100mph with a stock truck due to the road is approximately “2000ft” from the turn by the pool to the fire station) IS A RED FORD F250, V8!! It is not blake hammond passing my house im sure because he drives a black ford now. But it goes to show you that not only the hammond boy but numerous people on the fire Department drive dangerously.
PS. I stated on my original post that I live somewhere near the pool not directly infront of the pool, so wherever/whoever you got that off the wall bullshit from is beyond my recognition.
“”To accident”” it sounds like you are the one that is driving the red ford truck that works at the fire Department! I also see you travel at an excessive rate of speed myself, if it is not 100 it is 90mph thru town! “”N LOCK AVENUE””Very uncalled for!😣😠😠😠😠
(((so tell me this, what happens if one day you are on a call and a kid runs across the road infront of you real quick to get to the other side of N Lock Ave. You need to slow down a bit, that fire truck will wait on your ass to get to the Department.)))😤😤😤😤
You can reach a 100 mph through that straight stretch, because I hit 120 mph through there. Shows what a dumbass u are.
They find them with the chief who is in charge and takes pictures on accidents of deceased people and then is told to erase them… but does not. Welcome your fire chief of louisa. Stellar. Yes they save lives and it is an honor that should be awarded but teach them and mold them to know the importance and to the negligence they can carry when irresponsible.
I’m very confused as to what you mean about the fire chief? If I’m not mistaken, I don’t think he takes pictures of the deceased and posts them? I find this comment very rude and hurtful to our fire chief, and most definitely untrue.
Prayers for Maebelle as I cannot begin to imagine the hurt and pain she has endured. I really hope some kind of justice gets served.
Chris was notorious for walking in the middle of the road, on the point section, and if you walk on that road your playing with your life, 1 there is no where for people to even really walk on the road without being in the road, you factor that in with all the curves and blind spots, honestly I’m surprised that more people aren’t hit, Blake will live with that on his conscience for the rest of his life, he was responding to s call and it sounds like their trying to crucify him??? And quite honest Chris was a thief and has robbed many, as well as be on drugs, so did anyone do a toxicology on Chris the night he was hit?
So sad it doesn’t matter what what Chris done he was loved by his little mother shame on you. I believe she deserves that much respect and justice .praying for you may and may God shield you from people who say bad things
I understand the fire fighter was on a call, and Chris had a pass. He was just released out of jail and walking home so I’m sure he was clean. Been following this a little. I think even when on a call drivers need to be aware of their surroundings and learn they ain’t above the law. A pedestrian has the right away, so as long as he wasn’t intoxicated then the driver is at fault.
Yes!
u think he was clean just because he was just released. its easier sometimes to find drugs in jail then on the streets and the first thing a drug addict does when they get out is get their fix.
AAAMMMMMMEEEEEEEENNNNNNNN!!!!
Listen it takes a really low life human being to get on a public forum and degrade someone that is now deceased. I grew up with Chris and went to school with him from kindergarten all the way through high school. He was a great guy with a big heart and was one of those people who LITERALLY would give u his last dollar. Now I’m not saying he didn’t have faults and skeletons in his closet but I guarantee YOU do also!!!! We all do. We all have those things that we have said and done and aren’t proud of. That’s part of life, but it’s very disrespectful to bring out things about a person that has already passed away. I’m sure that Mr. Hammond has endured his fair share of sleepless nights and dreams that will haunt him the rest of his life. I would hate to know what that young man goes through knowing what happened. I don’t know Blake, I have never met him and I’m sure that in no way no how did he INTENTIONALLY mean to hit Chris. That’s why it’s called an accident not an on purpose. Still yet none of that changes the fact that he was driving a vehicle without insurance, which is against the law, and killed another human being. Do I think that Mr Hammond should be crucifed for what he done? Absolutely not. I myself have driven many times without insurance bc I didn’t have the money to pay it or whatever the case may be. But just like your statement “when you walk on that road your playing with your life”, well when you drive without insurance your taking a huge gamble on being involved in an accident. And if and when that accident happpens and your not insured, you must be ready to pay the consequences. That doesn’t make Blake a bad guy, it makes him a man that made a mistake and had an accident, guilty of breaking the law. No different then the breaking of the law you “CLAIM” Chris was guilty of. So moral of the story is don’t throw rocks when you live in a glass house. And we all live in glass houses. Prayers to May, and the whole family which I dearly love. Also prayers for Blake Hammond and his family which is now also suffering and going through a hard time. God Bless.
Couldn’t have said it better!
Justice for Chris!
It doesn’t matter if Chris was drunk or high the night he was hit. Blake was driving very fast when he hit Chris it sounded like two vehicles hitting plus he had no insurance on his vehicle which is uncalled for. Blake is liable for hitting Chris and killing him. I mean if u know that people are always waking beside the road on the point section than u should be more aware of everything around u. shame on u for brining up a dead men’s past. Just like if u or I hit someone and kill them we will be reliable and it’s worse when u don’t have insurance on ur vehicle. Just because Blake was going to a call doesn’t make him not reliable for hitting chris and killing him. Blake should not be treated any different than anyone else. I don’t know this family but I hope they get justice.. this mother lost her child because someone else wasn’t paying attention.
You are a piece of shit to say that about this woman’s deceased son. It doesn’t justify him being killed. And furthermore if this guy had no insurance why was he even on the road I’m sure if it was one of you family members it would be a different story wouldn’t it.
As a friend of Blake hammonds Blake did not mean for this to happen. Honestly he was so shook up and in so much pain for taking this mans life on accident! Blake sold the truck that he hit this man with a druggie, theif, liar and a man who no one could trust. Blake new about him but was still sad to see this man die because Blake was en route to save other lives and homes. And for this woman to file this lawsuit against him now are you serious. Ed cordle a louisa police officer might as well file a claim against this mans brother for putting him in the hospital as well for being under the influence of a motorized vehicle. Blake is a good and honest man and never meant to take anyone’s life no matter what. I’ve known him for a while now and he is still shook up about this. With his grandparents getting older and him having a little girl this woman has no right to put him under this by any means!
AMEN!!!!
I went to school with Mr Mullins and he was a long time friend. I’m also on a volunteer fire department and a professional truck driver. No one needs to loose their life over someone driving at anytime. If I was to hit someone with a tractor trailer no matter if it was me fault or not I still get blamed. So in conclusion he didn’t need to be driving at an irate of speed.
I’m sure many people knew him whether he was an addict or not, he was hit and killed.
Point blank… justice needs and should be served..
Does these firefighters not pay attention when their driving??
Justice for Chris!
All I will say is this Accidents happen!!! And this is nothing but an honest to God accident!!! Every dog has their day!! So don’t go sniffing another dog’s ass unless yours is clean!!!! All of this he said she said bullshit. God knows what happened that night. And at the end of the day that is the only thing that matters!! Blake has to live the rest of his life with the conscience of what happened. He knows and God knows. Can you say the same? Can you honest to God lay your head down at night and thing that what you’re doing is ok???? Everyone must remember that in the end God is the only one that has the right to judge anyone and anything!! Yes a man tragically lost his life to an accident that is merely just that. An accident. How in your eyes is it ok in your eyes that a man spends his life in prison away from his child??? Continuously doing more to try and justify your feelings? Well as far as this goes is you can’t force others to hurt and suffer just to make yourself feel better!!!!
Really praying God be with the mom during this. All these bad things everyone is saying about Chris. – a deceased person. You must be pretty low. It doesn’t matter what he was, he was hit and killed by a young boy that didn’t have insurance on his vehicle and obviously wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings.
Some people just don’t know the meaning of respect the guy is dead for crying out loud.
So, because someone dies, we should just get over all the awful and terrible things that that person has done? If a father rapes his daughter, should we put that he was a great father on his tombstone? No, we shouldn’t. Your comment just shows how ignorant you really are.
“No one”, no your comment shows how ignorant you are. Whether he had a past or not, he was a pedestrian walking on a public road. Legal to do. Blake was operating a motor vehicle illegally. The vehicle shouldn’t have been on the road without insurance. So therefore if he’d have followed the law, Chris would be alive right now. So he’s GUILTY, anyway u look at it. And Blake isn’t going to prison idiot, although he should, he’s gonna have to pay her puinitive damages. But thanks for showing your ignorance while calling others ignorant. You’re a special kind, aren’t ya??
why would they let you volunteer without proper insurance?
Oh he was firefighter that made it okay. – not saying he should be in prison but he should pay for it.
This is why I don’t volunteer at Local Fire Depts. You are not bonded as a volunteer and have no legal protection and if you use your car or truck you are liable personally.
I think the city and police officer who was hit head on by her other son should sue for everything that he has been through. It goes both ways. One son killed another nearly killed another person and permanently caused damage for the remainder of his life! Where is her cry for justice for him? I am a mom and I know she must be in pain but I don’t think a lawsuit is the answer!
I’m Sorry this happened. It was an accident. Blake is a good man and has suffered thru this to. Until you have an accident like this that takes a life you honestly don’t know what both families go thru. It hard to deal with on both ends. You wouldn’t wish this on your worst enemy.
So many people walk in the road and street in town and out in the country. I’m surprised more people haven’t been hit. I pray for peace and healing for both of these families affected by this tragedy. My family has been thru this years ago.
I am responding to this from a different perspective than many on here…. I know both families, not well, but well enough. My husband was also killed in a car accident when another man crossed over into his lane and they both were killed instantly. Witnesses and police report indicated that it was 100% the other mans fault. I absolutely could have sued the mans estate but chose not to. Luckily we had enough money to pay for funeral costs and financially we were ok. The other mans family was not. In fact my children and I helped pay for his funeral because his family didn’t have the money. With that being said, Mae financially isn’t able to pay for her sons burial costs on her own…. And no amount of money will take away the pain. Trust me, I know….
I look at this as both parties were to blame. Someone mentioned that pedestrians have the right of way but that is NOT true if they are walking in the middle of the road. So while Chris had the right to walk on the highway, he should have been walking along the side. Blake didn’t have liability insurance.. That didn’t cause him to have the accident but it does open him up to personal liability. Even under emergency situations, first responders must operate vehicles safely. This was an accident waiting to happen… But that is exactly what it was… a very tragic accident with blame on both sides. Mae should not bear the cost of burying her son and Blake should not be vilified for this either…
I realized that money wasn’t going to bring my husband back and creating a hardship for the other family wasn’t going to make my family “happy”. And for those of you who say Mae deserves all the money she can get, just realize that the vast majority of that money will not go to Mae. It will go to her attorneys for fees and for “costs”… They are the only winners in this whole sad situation…
Thank you for this post. Couldnt of said it better!!!
Most just want a radio to be nosey … they should check for license n insurance before handing anything out… a lot of them are way to big to climb a ladder. Much less get in a window
The volunteer firefighters drive way too fast, they always have and everyone knows it. Driving like they’re in a fire truck with lights and sirens when most of them drive pos trucks doing 80-90 mph down two lane roads with absolutely no training or common sense. This will be settled out of court and she will see justice and $. Slow down jackass. Simple.
Money can’t bring back her son. Yes I feel sorry for his family. But the volunteer fire fighters was just going to a call people. I’m sure his life has changed since that night. R.i.p Chris. But I don’t think a lawsuit is the answer.
It’s certainly a tragedy, I couldn’t imagine losing a loved one especially a child in this manner. That being said, at what point do self-awareness and personal responsibilities become insignificant? With or without chemically diminished senses walking in a street especially after nightfall is extremely dangerous. I don’t understand why the driver is automatically vilified, unless the accident took place on a sidewalk the vehicle was being operated in the space it was intended. It certainly appears to many this is a poor attempt to capitalize loss for monetary gain at the expense of our city; and in doing so staining the reputations of the men who voluntarily put themselves in danger to help the residents of the city and surrounding areas.
I’m curious when Blake sold the truck why was no money given to help pay the funeral bill? Not even a flower was sent to the funeral home from the fire dept or Blake. It really doesn’t seem as if he was too distraught considering he nor anyone from the dept ever called, came to the funeral, sent a flower or etc. As a matter of fact his Facebook posts displayed a complete different side one of not being torn up. He never showed any remorse to the family.
Here we are 2 years later and guess what?? NOTHING came of this? Want to know why? Blake was innocent…😂 he didn’t own the vehicle, and insurance was not required for him to carry on a vehicle he didn’t own! After the city settled at the minimum (20k) she received a total of 6000$ after court costs….