The fire company contends the freak accident was caused by the negligence of the first driver who set off a chain of events leading to the two deaths.
A Blair County motorcyclist and his female passenger were killed instantly when the cycle hit a low-slung cable after another vehicle struck a utility pole.
The victims were Gerald Whitaker, 31, of Tyrone, and Andrea Lynn Turner, 23, of Blandburg.
The accident happened around 1:30 a.m. on July 6, 2003, on Route 865, north of Blandburg in Reade Township.
State police said an SUV driven by Linda Glasgow of Fallentimber went out of control while rounding a curve. The vehicle ran off the road and struck the pole, causing a cable wire to become suspended over the road.
Within minutes, the motorcycle came upon the scene and ran into the wire. A van then struck the wire and flipped onto its side, but its driver and passengers were not hurt.
Glasgow and the three passengers in her SUV were taken to area hospitals for treatment.
Glasgow was charged with drunken driving, careless driving and two counts of reckless endangerment.
A lawsuit was filed Monday by Turner's parents, Lucille R. and Gary Turner, administrators of their daughter's estate.
The Turners named Glasgow and the Whitaker estate along with the fire company as defendants. They will have 20 days to respond after being served a copy of the civil action.
In an earlier lawsuit, Evelyn Whitaker, administrator of Gerald Whitaker's estate, named Glasgow and the fire company as defendants.
Glasgow did not immediately return a telephone message left through her family seeking comment.
According to the lawsuits, Glasgow and Whitaker attended a party late July 5 and early July 6 at the Reade Township fire hall and consumed alcoholic beverages while there.
"Glasgow, while under the influence of alcohol, left the party in her vehicle ... (which) failed to negotiate a turn," Indiana attorney Jason Matzus claims in the Turner lawsuit.
Glasgow and Whitaker were negligent for operating their vehicles while intoxicated to a degree that rendered them incapable of safe driving, Matzus contends.
The fire company, which should have known they were intoxicated, allowed them to drive from the party, according to the suit,
Whitaker's lawsuit, filed by attorney Christopher Fleming of Greensburg, blames the fire company and Glasgow.
The fire company, in an answer to the Whitaker lawsuit, said it lacked specific information on the allegations and is asking "for strict proof at trial," Hollidaysburg attorney Edward Zang said.
Zang contends there was contributory negligence by Whitaker in the accident.
But, Zang also maintained the accident was caused by the negligence and recklessness of Glasgow.
In the Whitaker lawsuit, Johnstown attorney Dennis Stofko has placed $100,000 - the liability limits on Glasgow's auto insurance - on deposit with the court.
Stofko, who represents Glasgow's insurance carrier, said the money is to be used to pay all claimants, either under an agreement among all parties or by order of court.
The lawsuits were filed in Cambria County Court, Ebensburg.
