Doe
v. Roe School District, et al.
An employee of the Roe School District was driving
at an excessive rate of speed when he entered an intersection
in the city of Alhambra. He was trying to beat the light
in his Mercury Cougar as evidence by his speed and the
revving of his engine. His vehicle collided with a Camaro
driven by an inexperienced youth with no driver's license.
Sadly, Plaintiff Jane Doe 1, a 41 year old female, and
her 3 1/2 year old niece, along with another aunt, Jane
Doe 2, were walking along the sidewalk as the collision
occurred. The Cougar lost control and jumped the curb
striking the three pedestrians.
 The
child died at the scene of the accident. Jane Doe 1
suffered injuries to her lower extremities, causing
an amputation to the right leg. Jane Doe 2 sustained
abrasions and also witnessed the injuries to her sister
and the death of her niece.
Independent witnesses did not see the color of the
light when the vehicles entered the intersection, but
a computer animated accident reconstruction showed angles
of the Cougar-driver's point of view along with the
speedometer, the traffic light, and the "don't
walk" signal. The animated sequence also illustrated
how the pedestrians were placed on the sidewalk in such
a way that the child was kill and one plaintiff was
severely injured, while the other plaintiff suffered
only minor physical damages. The computer animation
brought home for the defense just how graphic the testimony
was going to be at trial. This case was settled on the
day of trial for $4,600,000.00. |
