Michael Hennen, 27, and Hannah Barnes, 19Parties named in lawsuit
• Hennen’s Restaurant• Tim and Corrine Hennen• Michael Luhowiak, administrator of Michael Hennen’s estate• McDonald Farms, LLC• Norfolk Southern Railway
Nearly a year after two young people were killed by a train in an incident officials called a “tragic accident,” the mother of one victim has filed a $25 million lawsuit against family of the man who was killed with her.
Hannah Barnes, 19, and Michael Hennen, 27, were struck and killed by a southbound train early Aug. 22, 2011, after investigators said they fell asleep on a railway crossing at the Hennens’ family’s farm in Sale Creek.
In her lawsuit, Lisa Barnes, Hannah’s mother, has also named Michael Hennen’s estate, along with the family farm and Norfolk Southern Railway, which operates the train that killed the pair.
Hannah Barnes was a hostess and server at Hennen’s Restaurant that summer, and Michael Hennen was her supervisor. Both were working at a birthday party for Michael Hennen’s mother, Corinne, the night before the incident and drove to the McDonald Farm afterwards around 3 a.m.