In a significant legal development, two women who suffered severe injuries from a crash involving a Rolls-Royce in downtown Napa are taking legal action against the elderly driver responsible for the incident. The incident occurred nearly a year ago during Thanksgiving week, leaving both women with lasting physical injuries and emotional distress.
The plaintiffs, Annamarie Thammala, 29, and Veronnica Pansanouck, 31, filed their lawsuit on Tuesday in Napa County Superior Court. They accuse Robert Knox Thomas, the 78-year-old driver, of negligence and allege that his actions were influenced by elements of road rage. The lawsuit contends, “Defendant’s conduct was not the result of inattention, distraction, or mistake. It was the culmination of rage, aggression, and a deliberate disregard for human life.” Witnesses reportedly observed Thomas driving aggressively before the crash.
According to the Napa Police Department’s investigative report, Thomas was turning right from a stop sign at School Street onto First Street when he accelerated instead of braking, striking both women who were in a crosswalk. A security camera video captured the moment, showing the Rolls-Royce hitting the pedestrians before crashing into a nearby restaurant, Tarla Mediterranean Bar & Grill.
Thammala sustained multiple fractures, including spinal injuries that have resulted in paralysis from the waist down, while Pansanouck was pinned beneath the vehicle and required several surgeries for her extensive injuries. Both women remain under medical care that will be necessary for the long term, as noted by their attorneys at Habbas & Associates, who are seeking unspecified monetary damages on their behalf.
In a related note, Pansanouck’s sisters, who were also crossing the street at the time of the incident, are included as plaintiffs in the lawsuit due to the emotional trauma they endured while witnessing the accident.
Post-incident, Thomas received citations for several traffic infractions, including exceeding the speed limit and failing to stop at a stop sign, but these were categorized as infractions and not criminal charges, meaning they did not involve potential jail time. Thomas entered a plea of not guilty, with his traffic trial set for December 15. Napa police ruled out factors such as drugs, alcohol, and mechanical issues as part of the crash investigation.
Further complicating Thomas’s driving record, he was pulled over in late March for another traffic violation. His attorney contends that it was not Thomas himself driving at that time but his dog sitter, leading to the eventual dismissal of that charge. Nonetheless, Thomas was cited again shortly thereafter for an illegal turn on a red light, to which he pleaded guilty.
The lawsuit seeks punitive damages based on accounts from eyewitnesses who described Thomas’s aggressive driving and angry demeanor preceding the accident. Eyewitness statements indicate he may have been frustrated while searching for parking, circling the block multiple times before aggressively accelerating toward the intersection.
Witnesses also reported Thomas revving his engine and swerving, leading to safety concerns for pedestrians and other motorists in the vicinity. The lawsuit asserts that Thomas should have been more aware of pedestrian activity around that busy downtown area, particularly during a holiday week, and that his known vision impairment, due to macular degeneration, should have influenced his driving behavior.
For further inquiries, media contact for the case is Phil Barber, reachable at 707-521-5263 or via email at phil.barber@pressdemocrat.com.
