Wrongful Death Lawsuit Says Benjamin St-Juste Conspired and Participated in Street Race that Killed Former Teammate’s Girlfriend

Back in 2021, a woman named Olivia Peters died tragically in a car accident just outside Washington DC. She was riding in the passenger’s seat of a 2010 Nissan GT-R fully-equipped with nitrous oxide and the driver was her boyfriend, then Washington Commanders cornerback Deshazor Everett.

Benjamin St-Juste one of three former teammates named in wrongful death lawsuit

According to the Washington Post, a lawsuit has been filed by Peters’ mother that accuses Everett, along with two other Commanders teammates at the time — linebacker Jamin Davis and former Minnesota Gophers cornerback Benjamin St-Juste — and the owner of a local auto shop, of conspiring and participating in illegal street racing the night of December 23, 2021, which led to the crash that killed her daughter.

The suit alleges the defendants “came together and conspired and planned to engage in unlawful and criminal behavior” and that “Everett’s actions in speeding and driving recklessly in furtherance of the conspiracy were a direct and proximate cause” of Peters’s injuries and death.

Nicki Jhabvala – Washington Post

In the crash, Deshazor Everett was thrown from the car, suffering ‘serious injuries’, none that were life-threatening. Peters was trapped in the crashed car. By the time she was removed and brought to the hospital, there was no saving her.

Everett swerved, hit multiple trees and rolled. He was ejected from the car, and Peters was trapped inside. She was removed from the vehicle and transported to StoneSprings Hospital Center, where she was pronounced dead from internal bleeding. Everett suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Nicki Jhabvala – Washington Post

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It seems the lawsuit filed by Peters’ mom brings into question the entire process that followed her daughter’s death. Remember, this was back in 2021. At first, Everett was charged with involuntary manslaughter, which was reduced to reckless driving after he pled guilty.

Lawsuit calls original case into question

The plea agreement was reached after the Loudon County Sheriff’s initial findings, which found that Everett had been driving over 90 MPH at the time of the crash, were called into question. St-Juste told police that Everett was driving closer to 50 MPH, which seemed to be corroborated by eye witness accounts, the car’s black box and the county’s crash reconstruction team.

But this newly filed lawsuit claims to have evidence, including text messages and GoPro video from the night of the crash, that proves the Commanders threesome was indeed racing, which lead to Olivia Peters death.

The suit claims the three met at an auto shop in Loudoun County owned by fellow defendant Shahidul Islam, then went driving. Everett had a GoPro Camera attached to his car, recording the events. According to the suit, the defendants “drove at high rates of speed well in excess of the posted speed limits,” “changed lanes erratically and without signaling,” “crossed over double yellow lines and drove in the opposite lane of traffic” and “raced each other on multiple occasions.”

Nicki Jhabvala – Washington Post

Benjamin St-Juste, Deshazor Everett, the other two listed in the suit, and the Washington Commanders all declined comment when the Washington Post reached out.