ANDERSON, S.C. - The parents of a 19-year-old Clemson University student who died in a highway wreck two years ago have sued the state Transportation Department, saying not enough was done to prevent the collision.

Jennifer Lauren Farrell died Aug. 17, 2001 when another driver crossed the grass median on I-85 in Anderson County and hit her car. She died instantly. A few months later the state agency put up wire barriers to prevent such accidents from occurring.

Farrell's parents sued Wednesday in Anderson County civil court. They say the Transportation Department should've installed the median barriers sooner.

Transportation Department spokesman Pete Poore said his agency could not comment on pending litigation.

After Farrell's fatal crash, agency Safety and Systems engineer Dick Jenkins said his office knew the high rate of accidents between mile markers 16 and 18 on that interstate. He said the department had planned to put up cable barriers.

The family's complaint blames the state agency for failing to respond to the number of accidents on the same part of I-85, failing to reduce the speed limit in that area and failing to maintain the road surface on that stretch of highway. They have specified a damage request.

The Farrells' attorney, James Gilchrist Jr., said other lawsuits have blamed the state for fatal accidents.

"There are some currently pending and some that have been filed and been settled," Gilchrist said.

Information from: Anderson Independent-Mail