Parents Sue Preschool Over Fatal Car Attack

The parents of a 3-year-old boy killed when a man plowed his car through a Costa Mesa preschool last year have filed a lawsuit alleging the operators of the day-care center failed to provide a safe environment for children.

The suit charges that Southcoast Early Childhood Learning Center is “situated on the corner of a busy street with a considerable traffic flow. . . . There should have been formidable obstacles, fences and safeguards to protect the children from out-of-control cars.”

Brandon Wiener and 4-year-old Sierra Soto were killed May 3 when a car slammed over a fence and ran over a group of toddlers on the school’s playground. Four other children and a teacher were injured.

Steven Allen Abrams, 40, who was behind the wheel, faces multiple murder charges and allegations of special circumstances that could bring him the death penalty. A trial date has not yet been set.

Sheryl Hawkinson, the director of the learning center who is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, denied all its allegations and said Wednesday she was hurt by the legal action.