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Carnahan Crash Now a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in KC

Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan was killed in a plane crash three years ago.
(Courtesy: UPI)
Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan was killed in a plane crash three years ago.

By AP/KWMU

Kansas City, MO – A jury in Kansas City will be asked to decide whether a maker of aircraft parts was to blame for the death of Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan. He was killed in a plane crash in 2000.

His widow, Jean Carnahan, is one of the plaintiffs in the wrongful-death lawsuit, which contends the crash resulted from failure of vacuum pumps designed and made by a Cleveland-based Parker-Hannifin Corporation.

Jury selection started Monday.

Also killed in the crash was Carnahan's son Randy and long-time aide Chris Sifford. The Democratic governor was in the the closing weeks of his campaign for the U.S. Senate seat then held by Republican John Ashcroft. Randy Carnahan was piloting the plane on the way from St. Louis to a campaign appearance in New Madrid when it crashed.

Carnahan's name remained on the ballot and after he outpolled Ashcroft, Jean Carnahan was appointed to the Senate seat, which she lost to Republican Jim Talent a year ago.

Testimony expected to begin next week.

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