McKenzie Richmond v. Ethan Payne

Let’s get one thing straight: nobody expects to fly out of their own moonroof on the Muskogee Turnpike like some kind of accidental superhero, but here we are. On June 6, 2025, McKenzie Richmond wasn’t auditioning for a car commercial — she was just driving eastbound, minding her own business, when she suddenly became a human projectile launched through the glass ceiling of her car. Ejected. Through the moonroof. In a highway collision caused by a U-Haul trailer parked like a landmine in the middle of the road. Now, she’s suing for $150,000, and honestly? After reading this filing, you might want to throw a fundraiser.

So who are these people? On one side, we’ve got McKenzie Richmond, a resident of Muskogee County, Oklahoma — a regular driver, presumably with a taste for fresh air and possibly questionable roof-opening decisions. She’s represented by Smolen Law, PLLC, a firm that seems to specialize in making insurance adjusters sweat. On the other side? Ethan Payne, a Tulsa County man who, on that fateful day, was hauling a U-Haul trailer and apparently also hauling bad judgment. And then there’s Tiffany Snodgrass, whose current whereabouts are unknown — which, let’s be honest, might be the most relatable thing about her. She’s allegedly the owner of the vehicle Payne was driving, and she’s now tangled in this mess not because she was behind the wheel, but because she may have handed the keys to someone who should’ve been benched.

Here’s how this highway horror story went down. Ethan Payne was driving east on the Muskogee Turnpike, pulling a U-Haul trailer, when — plot twist — his rig had mechanical issues. Okay, fair enough. Stuff breaks. But instead of fully pulling over like a responsible adult with a giant trailer attached to his car, Payne did what can only be described as a half-effort: he parked the vehicle partially on the roadway. Not off to the shoulder. Not in a safe zone. Nope. Part of that U-Haul was still sitting in the traveled portion of the highway, like a trap set by someone who’s never taken a driver’s ed class or watched any episode of Highway to Heaven.

Now imagine you’re McKenzie Richmond, cruising along at highway speed, probably listening to Lizzo or maybe just the hum of your engine, when — BAM — you don’t see the partially obstructing trailer until it’s too late. You collide. Your car rolls off the road. And in what can only be described as a perfect storm of poor design and worse decisions, you are ejected through the moonroof. Let that sink in. Not the door. Not the windshield. The moonroof. That thing you open to let in a breeze or show your dog the stars? It just became your exit ramp. The filing doesn’t say whether she landed in a hayfield or on a passing UFO, but it does confirm she sustained “serious bodily injury.” Which, yeah. No kidding.

Now, why are we in court? Because McKenzie Richmond isn’t just mad — she’s legally mobilized. Her lawsuit lays out three claims, and they’re not messing around. First up: Negligence (and Negligence Per Se) against Ethan Payne. In plain English? He had a duty to drive safely and park responsibly. He failed. Not only did he leave his trailer in the roadway, but he violated Oklahoma law — specifically 47 O.S. § 11-1001(A)(1), which says you can’t park on the main part of a highway if you can reasonably pull off. And if you do stop, you better leave enough room for other cars to pass and be visible from 400 feet away. Payne didn’t do any of that. So under Oklahoma law, his actions aren’t just dumb — they’re automatically negligent. That’s what “negligence per se” means: break the law, cause an accident, and boom — liability is basically baked in.

Second claim: Negligent Entrustment — and this one’s aimed at Tiffany Snodgrass. Now, this is the legal equivalent of blaming the person who lent their car to the guy who crashed it. The idea here is that if you give your vehicle to someone you know is a terrible driver — reckless, careless, the kind of person who parks trailers in traffic — and they hurt someone, you can be on the hook too. The filing says Snodgrass “knew or should have known” Payne was a bad driver. We don’t have receipts on that yet — the plaintiff admits this will be confirmed in discovery — but if they can prove Payne has a history of sketchy driving, Snodgrass might regret ever saying, “Sure, take my car, Ethan.”

Third and final claim: Punitive Damages — the legal version of throwing shade with a side of financial vengeance. This isn’t about covering medical bills. This is about punishment. The filing alleges Payne and Snodgrass acted with “intentional, wanton, and reckless conduct” — meaning they either didn’t care or knew their actions could cause serious harm. If proven, punitive damages are meant to slap wallets and send a message: “Don’t do stupid s* on the highway.” And honestly? It’s hard to argue with that sentiment.

So what does McKenzie want? $150,000. Split right down the middle: $75,000 in actual damages (medical bills, car repairs, lost wages, pain and suffering), and another $75,000 in punitive damages. Is that a lot? For a car accident with ejection via moonroof — absolutely not. Medical bills alone can skyrocket into six figures, and if she’s dealing with long-term injuries, PTSD, or can’t work for a while, $75K in actual damages might even be conservative. The punitive half? That’s the spicy part. It’s not about fairness — it’s about accountability. And in a case where someone left a U-Haul sticking out into traffic like a deadly speed bump, a financial sting might be the only thing that changes behavior.

Now, our take? Look, we’ve covered lawsuits over stolen chickens, broken fingernails, and one guy who sued his ex for “emotional distress” caused by a poorly timed TikTok. But this one? This one’s next-level. The image of someone being launched through a moonroof is equal parts tragic and absurd — like a Jackass stunt gone wrong, except nobody’s laughing. The most absurd part? That Ethan Payne thought it was okay to park a U-Haul partially on a highway. Not fully off. Not safely visible. Just… kind of there. Like a forgotten lawn chair at a concert. And the fact that Tiffany Snodgrass is currently MIA? It adds a Gone Girl vibe to what’s otherwise a textbook case of highway negligence.

But here’s what we’re rooting for: accountability. Not just because someone flew through a moonroof — though that’s certainly memorable — but because this is a reminder that small decisions have massive consequences. A few extra seconds to pull fully off the road could’ve prevented all of this. A second thought before lending your car to a risky driver might’ve helped too. We’re not saying everyone needs to live in fear of lawsuits, but maybe — just maybe — don’t treat the Muskogee Turnpike like your personal driveway.

And seriously, if you’re going to have a moonroof? Maybe keep it closed during rush hour.