LIVINGSTON COUNTY, Mich. – A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed under the Michigan Wrongful Death Act against multiple defendants, alleging that their negligent actions led to the death of 71-year-old Eugene Glavin of Roscommon on I-96 in Livingston County.
The crash happened on Nov. 13, 2022, around 2:30 pm near I-96 in Howell Township.
“In one fell swoop, we lost my dad and two of our dogs, and to add to all of it, it was my mom’s birthday. I still don’t believe it’s real. Every day of my life, I hope it’s not real,” said Jessica Hallford, Glavin’s daughter.
The suit alleges that 22-year-old Collin Cramer from Fowlerville had been using nitrous oxide while driving westbound on I-96 — inhaling “Hippie Whippy” — when he lost consciousness and control of his vehicle crossing three lanes and went into oncoming traffic in the eastbound lanes.
That’s when the suit alleges he smashed into the car Glavin was driving. Glavin had to be extricated from the vehicle and later died from his injuries.
“He broke literally every bone in his body,” Hallford’s attorney, Paul Doherty, managing partner at Ven Johnson Law, said.
According to the lawsuit, police found Cramar at the scene with a nitrous oxide canister between his legs and a plastic gas-release nozzle on the car floor.
This, according to the suit, suggests the inhalation of nitrous oxide played a significant role in the events leading up to Glavin’s death.
“He knew what happened to him, and he knew his dogs were dying, and he knew he was going to die, and the people prayed with him,” Hallford said.
The lawsuit claims that specific businesses contributed to Glavin’s death by selling and marketing nitrous oxide, a substance often abused for its intoxicating effects.
The defendants listed in the case are Elite Gas, LLC, a Delaware-based limited liability company with its principal place of business in California.
“It’s an unregulated business that is preying on people that want to get high immediately,” said Doherty.
The company allegedly conducted business transactions in Livingston County, Michigan, that contributed to Glavin’s injuries and death, “engaged in tortious acts,” leading to the lawsuit, sold nitrous oxide under the brand name “Hippie Whippy” through its website, hippiewhippy.com and “marketed and distributed large nitrous oxide canisters nationwide, including in Michigan.”
Other defendants include Mr. Vapor of Howell, a limited liability company operating in Livingston County, and Smoker’s Depot, Inc., a Michigan-based business.
The owners of these businesses — Mazin Samona, Najib Samona, Ronda Roszak, and Anthony Roszak, are accused of facilitating the sale of nitrous oxide for recreational inhalation, and also contributing to the catastrophic accident that led to Glavin’s death.
Nitrous oxide, commonly referred to as “Whip-Its” or “hippie crack,” is frequently misused as an inhalant. While it is legally sold for food-grade purposes (such as whipping cream), it is also widely abused for its euphoric effects.
The lawsuit alleges that Elite Gas and the other defendants sold the nitrous oxide to individuals who intended to inhale it for intoxication and marketed the product in a way that encouraged recreational use. They’re also accused of selling the nitrous oxide to customers who were likely to drive while under its influence.
The lawsuit argues the businesses involved were aware of the dangers of nitrous oxide abuse but continued to sell and market the substance irresponsibly. If proven, the defendants could be held liable for negligence and wrongful death.
“It’s gross — They knew what they’re doing, said Hallford. “They know they’re harming people. They know they’re selling a product that is not meant to be ingested, and they’re ruining lives.”
Local 4 reached out to those named in the suit multiple times but has not heard back yet.
Complaint 1.27.25 by snpowers on Scribd
