Teen passenger in speeding car sues driver who was hit
By Julie Manganis
Staff writer

SALEM — The driver of a minivan who was seriously injured when she was struck head-on by a drag-racing teenager doing 81 mph is now being sued by the teenager's passenger, who was also injured.

A lawsuit filed yesterday in Salem Superior Court suggests that Christine Speliotis "carelessly and negligent (sic) failed to avoid the collision with the other vehicle head on."

The lawsuit was filed by the father of Brandon Pereira, 17, of Peabody, the cousin of Timothy Pereira, the driver of the speeding Ford Mustang.

Timothy Pereira, 19, of Salem is out on bail awaiting trial on charges that include racing, speeding, driving to endanger and failing to stay within marked lanes.

Investigators from the Salem and state police concluded that Timothy Pereira was going 81 mph on Fort Avenue, a road with a 30 mph speed limit, when he lost control, veering across the center lines and into the path of a Honda Odyssey minivan.

Speliotis, 42, of Salem, and her passenger, Stanley Swaczyk, 50, of Marblehead, suffered broken bones and other injuries. Police said Speliotis was traveling at a reasonable speed for the road, and she was not charged with any wrongdoing.

Brandon Pereira was ejected from the Mustang and suffered severe injuries that resulted in his being put into an induced coma for a time. He has been at a rehabilitation hospital, said his lawyer, Roland Hughes.

Hughes defended the filing of the lawsuit yesterday, saying it's his obligation to recover as much as possible in damages for his client. The complaint lists $350,000 in medical bills to date and another $100,000 in anticipated expenses.

"Basically, under Massachusetts law I'm trying to get compensation for my client anywhere I can," Hughes said yesterday.

He said he has also pursued a claim against Timothy Pereira's insurer, which is expected to lead to a settlement. "I'm pursuing all avenues," Hughes said.

Hughes said he is still awaiting the final accident reconstruction report and did not want to comment on exactly how he would show that Speliotis could have done something to avoid the accident.

In a letter filed in connection with Timothy Pereira's criminal case in May, Brandon Pereira's mother wrote that she believes the two teens should be allowed contact with each other.

"Yes this is a terrible situation and of course I wish it never happened, but it did," Luisa Pereira wrote. "That being said it doesn't change the amount of trust I have for Tim and Brandon being together. I believe Tim would help Brandon's recovery."

Speliotis had already filed a lawsuit against Timothy Pereira in April, seeking damages of at least $88,000 for medical bills and other expenses. She suffered a fractured hip and leg and had to undergo surgery to insert metal rods and screws to repair the damage.

In a formal response to the suit, a lawyer for Timothy Pereira also raised the suggestion that Speliotis' "own negligence caused or contributed to any injuries that the plaintiff may have suffered as alleged in the complaint."

A hearing in Timothy Pereira's criminal case is scheduled for Aug. 25. His lawyer wants a judge to dismiss the charges because, he contends, police did not immediately cite him at the scene of the crash.

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