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06/10/2006Driver sued over death of a deputyOff-duty officer was killed in crash last AugustBEULAH — The father of a Benzie County sheriff's deputy who died in a motorcycle crash filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a woman who drove the vehicle that collided with him. Cory Lee Gunther, 27, was killed off-duty last August when his motorcycle collided with a car driven by Roxanna Tolar, of Interlochen, on Reynolds Road in Inland Township. A negligence suit was filed by Phillip Carl Gunther Jr. The suit alleges Tolar failed to stop for a stop sign at an intersection on Fewins Road and then collided with Gunther's motorcycle. Police found that Gunther, a four-year sheriff's deputy, was traveling nearly 80 mph on Reynolds Road — a 55 mph zone — when the collision occurred. The suit also lists Bonnie and Brian Kelsey, both of Benzie County, as defendants because they owned the car Tolar drove. The suit alleges the Kelseys were negligent because they allowed Tolar to operate their vehicle, although they "knew or had reason to know" she did not have a valid license. Tolar's license expired in 2003 and was not renewed, according to state records. Tolar could not be reached for comment. Bonnie Kelsey declined to comment. Tolar later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of operating without a valid license. "If someone is speeding, it certainly doesn't give you the right to pull out in front of them," said attorney Blake Ringsmuth, who represents the Gunther family. "She had driven the intersection before. He left behind two very young children." See related stories:
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