South MS woman was ‘visibly intoxicated,’ lawsuit says. Tragedy awaited
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Patton drove with .158% BAC, veered into traffic and killed passenger Collins.
- Two lawsuits claim bar negligent for serving Patton while she was visibly intoxicated.
- Plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages for losses.
Evelynn Patton was drunk when she drove away from a sports bar in D’Iberville with Vanesha Ka’Trice Collins in the passenger seat.
Patton’s blood-alcohol level was later measured at .158% — well above the legal limit of .08%, evidence would show. On Popp’s Ferry Road, Patton veered into oncoming traffic and struck a vehicle driven by Eric Holley, a Harrison County resident at the time.
The accident on November 26, 2023, killed 31-year-old Collins, a Biloxi resident, and seriously injured Holley. Patton, who is from Moss Point, has pleaded guilty to a felony DUI causing death. In exchange for the plea, the District Attorney’s Office dropped a second charge of DUI causing death or disfigurement.
She was recently sentenced to serve five years in prison and five years on supervised release.
She is now facing a civil lawsuit that accuses her of causing Collins’ death while driving drunk. The bar where she was allegedly drinking is named in the Collins lawsuit and in a second case filed on Holley’s behalf.
Lawsuits pending over DUI crash
Anthony Collins, a brother of Vanesha Collins, filed the wrongful death lawsuit. Anthony Collins is also suing Jade Holdings LLC, owner of a business identified in the lawsuit as The Sports Bar Pub. The lawsuit, filed by Ryan Canon of Morris Bart Ltd. in Gulfport, says Patton was served alcohol at the sports bar on Mallett Road and was “visibly intoxicated” when the two women left.
Eric Holley filed a second lawsuit, naming only Jade Holdings as a defendant. Holley’s attorney, Marshall Goff of Brandon, said his client suffered “horrific injuries” that have damaged his quality of life.
Jade Holdings has denied any wrongdoing in response to Holley’s lawsuit, but has not had time to respond to the lawsuit filed more recently by Collins. Patton, who is in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, also has not responded.
Both lawsuits accuse Jade Holdings of violating a state law that makes it illegal to serve alcohol to someone who is “visibly intoxicated.” The lawsuits also accuse the sports bar of negligence in serving Patton while she was drunk.
Anthony Collins is asking for an unspecified amount of damages for his sister’s lost income, medical expenses, funeral expenses, loss of companionship and mental anguish. He is also requesting that a jury award punitive damages against Jade Holdings and Patton.
Holley also is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages against Jade Holdings, claiming the company’s “actions in overserving a visibly intoxicated patron, knowing the risks of drunk driving, constitute gross negligence and reckless disregard for the safety of the public,” including Holley.
