The family of a Houston woman whose car sped through a stop sign and smashed into a cement wall, killing her on impact a week before Christmas, filed what is likely the third acceleration-related wrongful death lawsuit against Toyota in the nation Monday.

Trina Renee Harris, a 34-year-old mother of two, died on impact when her 2009 Toyota Corolla slammed into an East Hardy Toll Road cement divider at Barry, leaving no skid marks, Houston police reported.

Her husband, Michael Harris, filed a lawsuit Monday against Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., gas pedal maker CTS Corp. and Fred Haas Toyota World, which leased her the car. Lawyers involved in the lawsuit said it's likely the third such case filed in response to acceleration problems that prompted Toyota to recall millions of vehicles and halt some production.

“I want those who were negligent to be held responsible. This problem was there before Dec. 18 when she died,” Michael Harris said. The U.S. Navy petty officer first class had recently completed a stint on an aircraft carrier in the Middle East and was in San Diego when he learned of his wife's death. He returned to Houston, where the family opened Christmas gifts Trina Harris had bought.

“I have a whirlwind of emotions. I'm extremely angry for my children. She won't be there for the prom. When they get married, she won't be there,” Harris said in an interview at the offices of his Houston attorneys, Ken and Judy Mingledorff.

‘Mama Trina'

The man, who met the love of his life as they giggled during driver's education at Forest Brook High School, said her death was avoidable. “If there's a problem, you don't put it off,” he said. “This is about people's lives. Money should not outweigh people's lives.”

His wife worked in a school cafeteria so she would be home by the time her teenage girls got there, Harris said. “She was just Mama Trina and everyone knew they had a place to sleep or a meal if they needed it when she was around.”

Harris said he finds himself dialing his wife's cell phone to tell her about his day.

Toyota issued a voluntary recall related to floor mats and the accelerators in some 3.8 million vehicles in November. Last month it recalled 2.3 million cars, including many 2009 Carollas, to fix a mechanical problem with the accelerators.

Toyota issued a voluntary recall related to floor mats and the accelerators in some 3.8 million vehicles in November. Last month it recalled 2.3 million cars, including many 2009 Carollas, to fix a mechanical problem with the accelerators.

Harris said the crash didn't make sense to him and he recalled his wife saying the leased car's accelerator sometimes seemed to move on its own.

He went to the accident scene and then called Toyota before the January recall to tell them there was something wrong.

He said he never heard back from Toyota. But when he heard about the latest recall, he sought out the lawyers and sued, asking for $200 million in actual and punitive damages for what he alleged is gross negligence.

“Toyota is building death traps and they know it and they need to stop it,” said lawyer Ken Mingledorff.

No comment

A Toyota spokeswoman said Monday that the company would not comment on pending litigation. A manager at Fred Haas said they have not yet seen the lawsuit and calls to CST Corp. were not returned.

Other wrongful death lawsuits against Toyota have been filed in Michigan and California.

The California lawsuit seeks compensation for the loss of a state trooper and family members whose August 2009 crash can be heard on tapes of his 911 call saying his Lexus was going 120 mph and he couldn't stop it.

The Michigan lawsuit was filed by the surviving family of a woman whose Camry missed her regular turn and careened at 80 mph down a street while she tried to pump the brakes until the car hit a tree in 2008. Her Camry was not listed among the recalls, however.

mary.flood@chron.com