Delta Airlines Sued After Intoxicated Passenger Disembarked, Proceeded to Fatally Run Over His Wife

A Delta Airlines flight takes off from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Jan. 30, 2017, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Delta Airlines faces a wrongful death lawsuit after a man drank in excess on a flight and shortly after landing ran over his wife with a car, killing her in front of her child at a Salt Lake City parking garage following an argument, the New York Post reported.

The estate of the deceased woman is suing the airline, claiming flight attendants overserved the man, Shawn Sturgeon. Representatives for the estate of the wife and her child claim the airline served Shawn Sturgeon at least two additional drinks despite him consuming “multiple” beverages before the flight.

According to the lawsuit, the airline should have realized Shawn Sturgeon was heavily intoxicated when he was leaving the plane, but no steps were taken to make sure he didn’t drive or inform the police.

The lawsuit claims the flight crew “intoxicated Shawn to a level well in excess of the legal blood alcohol limit, rendering him impaired” to the point that he had no memory of landing or making his way to the car, per the New York Post.

Shawn Sturgeon was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the incident, during which his blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit. He pled guilty to automobile homicide and domestic violence in the presence of a child in September 2022, ABC4 reported. According to the New York Post, he and his wife returned to Salt Lake City from a vacation from San Antonio and then argued “loudly and viciously,” according to eyewitnesses.

Shawn Sturgeon then allegedly got in the car and backed it up. Charlotte Sturgeon was outside the back right door, where her child sat, causing her to fall under the vehicle. He then put the car into drive and ran over his wife for about 10 feet before stopping the car and getting out, at which point he yelled at Charlotte Sturgeon, saying “are you f—ing crazy” and “Get the f–k up right now,” according tot he New York Post.

He then put her in the car, drove to a toll booth and asked for help. Charlotte Sturgeon was unresponsive when the police arrived and was declared dead at a hospital.

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