Family Of Oildale Woman Died In Crash Gets $2.5M

Family Of Oildale Woman Died In Crash Gets $2.5M

Introduction

A wrongful death lawsuit involving Kern County sheriff’s deputy who ran a red light and killed an Oildale woman has settled for $2.5 million.

According to the lawsuit filed in 2016, the collision happened on September 24, 2014, when the defendant was traveling at 85 mph on North Chester Avenue ran a red light and struck the driver-side of the women's vehicle, which was traveling east on West China Grade Loop at 43 mph

The lights and siren of the defendant's vehicle were activated at the time of the crash, but the California Highway Patrol (CHP) found that the speed reduced their effectiveness. He was on his way to assist another deputy in connection with a fight at the Long Branch Saloon.

The lawsuit was filed against the county in U.S. District Court in Fresno, alleging the actions of the deputy as negligent and reckless. A CHP investigation indicated the defendant at fault in the crash because he entered a “solid red light” while speeding.

In 2017, the defendant pleaded no contest to misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter and was sentenced to 240 hours of community service, and was no longer with the sheriff’s office at the time of the plea agreement. The settlement amount will be given to the two adult children of the victim.

Earlier in March 2020, a similar incident took place when a Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Special Agent rammed into the rear end of a man from Long Beach. The crash caused permanent disability to the man for which he received $900,000 as a settlement from the government.