An automobile of a man from Michigan was involved in the death of one of the dealership’s employees.

He left his car at the dealership for an oil change and tire rotation is being sued.

On March 13, 2020, Sergio Enrique Diaz-Navarro brought his red 2019 Jeep Wrangler to a Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership, where 19-year-old lube technician Daniel Thompson worked on it.

According to court records, the vehicle “lurched forward” after the operation was completed as the young employee attempted to operate it.

It slammed 42-year-old mechanic Jeffrey Hawkins against a cabinet.

Thompson lowered the Jeep from the vehicle lift and then tried to start it and let it idle to ensure there were no oil leaks around the filter.

According to the plaintiff summary, “Thompson reached into the vehicle and pressed brake with his right foot while keeping his other foot on the floor.”

“He began by pressing the start button. He pulled his foot off the brake and depressed the clutch pedal when the car wouldn’t start. He pressed the start button once more. The Jeep started this time. He took his foot off the clutch while still standing outside the car. The automobile accelerated.”

Hawkins was rushed to the hospital and died as a result of his injuries.

Thompson did not know how to drive the vehicle’s manual gearbox and did not have a license, according to attorney David Femminineo.

The dealership cannot be sued, according to the attorney, because of a legal precedent that prohibits an employee from suing their boss for negligence.

In this situation would be the hiring of someone who should not have been driving.

“When you hand your car over to anybody including the valet or the person at the service desk at your local dealership, you better be able to trust that person,” the attorney said.

“So in reality, the owner is going to be held responsible, but the dealership’s insurance company is paying,” he told.