Tragedy worsened by insurance denial
By Virginia Black, South Bend Tribune, Ind. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
The two
His parents now believe that car and its laundry list of safety issues, including an unlit dashboard and a passenger-seat belt that apparently didn't function, contributed to the catastrophe that would end the revelry the early morning of
Not long after the brothers left the Little Tavern Too on that rainy night, Ryan crashed his new 2006 silver Mitsubishi Eclipse into a tree on 875 East near 100 North outside
According to documents, Ryan told officers at the scene he had been drinking, and he expressed remorse that he didn't realize how much. He has been charged in his brother's death, and his criminal case is still pending in
Meanwhile, his parents --
Notes in a doctor's file
When Kyle himself had borrowed money from his grandparents to buy a used car in 2012,
That process consisted of the older man taking the younger one to his
After Kyle's death in the traffic crash, his family -- already robbing savings accounts to pay the
Doctor's records she has received since list some of the symptoms: anxiety, sleeplessness, lack of concentration, irritability. Among other possibilities, the doctor's notes include "Suspect Bipolar II."
Indeed, the autopsy report after the car crash two years after the doctor's visit showed only alcohol and nicotine in the young man's system when he died.
Once it became known the family was struggling to pay Kyle's funeral bills, the owner of another local bar, the Billy Goat 9 & Dine in
He said
The Flotows say they encouraged friends and family members to attend, and the bar was full that evening. A band donated its time, and
But they say Cooper turned over nothing, later telling them an employee stole the proceeds.
"They just took the money and never talked to us again,"
A spokeswoman from the
'Joy and relief'
The family's appeals of the insurance policy denial -- both to
But after The Tribune recently approached the insurance company with the whole story, higher-level officials reviewed the case and reversed the decision.
"At
"Upon further review of the specific details and circumstances of this case," she wrote Thursday afternoon, "
Indeed,
The Flotows intend to inter Kyle's ashes in a new memorial garden,
They want a place to remember the redheaded son they recall as ornery and stubborn but also fearless, funny and so friendly he didn't know a stranger.
And they hope their story might help others avoid similar red tape.
"I miss my son so much,"
But after hearing the insurance company came through, she wrote in an email Friday morning, she was "crying tears of joy and relief."
574-235-6321
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