Wife Dies After Husband Trips While Carrying Her

A young Marine was carrying his wife to their car after a night out with friends when he tripped on a pothole—and five days later, she was dead. John and Robyn Pinkham were newlyweds when tragedy struck on June 14 of last year, People reports. They were leaving the Coyote Bar and Grill in Carlsbad, California, when John tripped, sending Robyn to the ground, where she hit her head on the pavement and lost consciousness. The 22-year-old was rushed to the hospital, but ultimately died from the severe head injuries she suffered. John, 23, who was also injured in the incident, is now suing the restaurant's parent company, NBC San Diego reports.

"Young, in love, and newlyweds, John Pinkham was carrying his wife Robyn Pinkham in his arms as they moved towards the group’s car. As John Pinkham walked through the poorly lit, un-even, and pothole-ridden parking lot while lovingly holding his wife, John stepped into a pothole causing him to lose his footing and fall forward," the lawsuit states, accusing the company of an "inexcusable failure to maintain their parking lot in a safe condition." But a restaurant manager tells NBC San Diego the area in question is not technically a parking lot, but a street owned by the city, one side of which is used as commuter parking for North County Transit. Local workers also say the parking spaces are typically patched by the parent company every summer. (More accidental death stories.)