KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The parents of Elsa McGrain, the 20-year-old University of Kansas student killed in a hit-and-run crash late last year in Douglas County, filed a lawsuit against DoorDash and suspect William Klingler, claiming the delivery company didn’t vet him, and he shouldn’t have been employed due to his criminal past.
The family alleges DoorDash knew or should have known that its system allows unfit drivers to operate on its platform, and pointed to a number of Klingler’s previous convictions, including driving under the influence, tampering with an ignition interlock device, and various traffic safety violations, as reasons he shouldn’t have been allowed to drive for the company.
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Kansas court records show Klingler has three DUI convictions, and was charged with a fourth DUI in April of 2024.
McGrain’s family also says in the lawsuit that Klingler was negligent in failing to control his vehicle and drive at a safe speed before the crash on November 6.
Klingler was charged with the following crimes in connection to the hit-and-run:
- Failure to stop at an accident reasonably known to result in death
- Operate a car without an ignition interlock device
- Driving while suspended, second offense
- No insurance
An affidavit revealed 20-year-old Elsa McGrain was out for a run north of Lawrence on East 1500 Road around 5:30 that November night when she was hit and left for dead.
Surveillance video from a nearby business showed the moments leading up to the deadly hit-and-run. In the video, the vehicle is seen traveling at a “high rate of speed,” according to the affidavit.
Klingler is set to appear back in court on February 17 for his criminal charges.
FOX4 has reached out to DoorDash for comment, and we’ll update this story with it if and when the company provides one.
