Grafton woman sues business, driver

A Grafton woman is suing Pizza Hut and one of the company’s delivery drivers stemming from a 2017 crash that left a man dead.

The suit was filed Oct. 5 in Lorain County Common Pleas Court on behalf of Freda Gray, administrator of the estate of Robert Gray Jr.

It names Pizza Hut Hallrich Inc. and Christina Gringle as defendants.

Gringle, 31, of Elyria, pleaded no contest March 9 to single counts of vehicular manslaughter and pedestrian has the right of way in Elyria Municipal Court for the crash.

She was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 60 days suspended on the condition of not having any similar charges for two years, completion of a defensive driving program and 80 hours of community service.

According to the filing, Gringle struck and killed Gray on Oct. 6, 2017, when he was in a crosswalk in Elyria while she was driving in the scope of her employment with Pizza Hut, 1001 E. Broad St. in Elyria.

The suit names five counts against the defendants: wrongful death, conscious pain and suffering, negligence, the company is responsible for Gringle’s actions and negligent hiring, retention and supervision.

The suit is seeking an amount in excess of $25,000.

Neither Gringle nor Pizza Hut Hallrich Inc. could be reached for comment.