Toby Keith, Family Awarded $2.8M For Father's Death Suit

Country superstar Toby Keith and his family have been awarded $2.8 million in damages in the 2001 collision that killed his father.

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A jury decided in favor of the Covel family over Elias Rodriguez and Pedro Rodriguez, operators of Rodriguez Transportes of Tulsa, and the Republic Western Insurance Co.

The plaintiffs, wife Carolyn Covel, sons Toby Keith Covel and Tracey Covel, and daughter Tonni Covel, alleged that H.K. Covel would not have died if the bus had been equipped with working brakes.

According to court documents, a charter bus owned by the Rodriguezes was "in urgent need" of brake repairs before the Keith patriarch, H.K. Covel was accidentally killed on Interstate 35 in March 2001. The Rodriguezes had been advised of the brake problem before Covel's truck crossed the center median and struck the bus.

The Covel initially suspected Covel suffered a medical condition that led the truck to swerve out of control. They later learned another vehicle had hit the car and filed a wrongful death lawsuit to clear Covel's name, Greg Dixon, attorney for the Keith family, said.

"The jury found no fault on the part of Mr. Covel in the wreck that claimed his life," said Dixon.