HUNTSVILLE -- Madison County Circuit Court Judge Chris Comer ruled this morning that local drug squad agents are not liable for the death of a NASA engineer killed in a car crash with a suspect fleeing from the agents.

Marshall Space Flight Center engineer Darrren Spurlock was killed May 30, 2008, after a woman involved in a small drug buy led police on a high-speed, 11-mile chase across Huntsville an on to Redstone Arsenal before she crashed into his car.

Spurlock's family sued the woman, Valorie Cox - who is in federal prison for second-degree murder for Spurlock's death -- members of the drug squad involved in the chase and various local governments who oversee the Madison-Morgan County Strategic Counterdrug Team, "STAC."

Some defendants were previously released from the case. The City of Huntsville and attorneys for the drug squad agents argued the case should be dismissed as the officers were acting in the line of duty and were entitled to "state agent immunity."

The judge agreed, issuing short order today granting the summary judgment motion on behalf of drug squad investigators Tony McElyea, Terry Lucas, Jimmy Anderson and Jim Williams, on the basis of their state agent immunity.

Attorneys for Kelly Spurlock, Darren Spurlock's widow, have argued the agents were not entitled to state agent immunity because the officers' high speed pursuit was a breach of their duty and negligent and breaches are not protected under the law.

The plaintiffs argued the chase led to the fatal crash between Cox and Spurlock. The plaintiffs contend the City of Huntsville's policy on pursuits advises if the danger to the public outweighs the need for immediate "apprehension" of a suspect, officer should not begin a pursuit or should immediately terminate the chase.

Following an April 12 hearing on the motions for summary judgment Spurlock's Birmingham-based attorney Rip Andrews said that the losing side of the summary judgment question would almost certainly appeal the judge's order.

Updated at 5:09 p.m. to include reference to Judge Chris Comer.