McMINNVILLE, Tenn. -- Steve and Bobbie Sweet said no amount of money will bring back their daughter, Samantha Roach, or her friend, Billy Lynn Bell, but they're hoping a $260 million lawsuit will send a message to people who hire illegal immigrants.

"The big importance of it is to let the employers know that they cannot circumvent the law and hire illegals and have them working in the states," said Steve.

Roach and Bell were killed on a motorcycle that was struck by a pickup truck allegedly driven by Herlin Alvarez.

The wreck happened in September on Highway 70 in Warren County. The Sweets said their pain was intensified by the fact that Alvarez left the scene of the accident.

Now, five months later, family members said it's wrong the McMinnville company that hired Alvarez knew he was in this country illegally.

According to the lawsuit, Alvarez was doing business for Porter Roofing at the time of the crash. It goes on to say Alvarez was in the country illegally and did not have a valid Tennessee drivers license.

The lawsuit also accuses Porter Roofing of setting up a phony company designed to get around Tennessee laws that prohibit the hiring of illegal immigrants.

The Sweets said they believe Roach and Bell would be alive today had the company not made it easy for Alvarez to live in Tennessee.

"I would still have my daughter and Lynn's two girls still have their father if (Alvarez) hadn't been here in the states illegally," said Bobbie.

Warren County sheriff's deputies said Alvarez left the scene of the wreck, and they believe Alvarez's brother and another man helped him.

Those two men are in jail, but Alvarez is nowhere to be found.

Porter Roofing's attorney said through a statement Wednesday, "Porter Roofing expresses its deepest sympathies for the losses suffered by the Bell and Roach families. With regard to the complaint, Porter Roofing denies it was responsible for the unfortunate deaths."