City of Champaign Approves $2M Settlement for Slain Tow Truck Driver

The family of a Champaign, IL tow truck driver who was killed in a 2022 accident will receive $2 million from the city of Champaign, bringing to a close the wrongful death lawsuit filed by his family. Champaign City Council members voted unanimously to approve the settlement with the estate of the decedent who was 20 years old at the time of his death.

According to the terms of the settlement, the $2 million payment to the family is not an admission of liability or fault on behalf of the city or the two Champaign police officers named in the original suit. Instead, the settlement was meant to avoid protracted litigation and “buy their peace.”

The plaintiff, a tow truck driver in Urbana, was struck by a passing vehicle and killed on March 5, 2022, while cleaning up after an accident on Neil Street near Windsor Road. The driver of the vehicle that struck the decedent was a 16-year-old from Tolono. In May 2022, he pleaded guilty to failing to reduce speed and was fined $500.

The wrongful death lawsuit filed by the decedent’s family included claims against the city of Champaign as well as two police officers employed by the city. They were among the officers who responded to the crash that the decedent was helping to clean up. The city argued that the two officers were in charge of assisting drivers and passengers involved in the crash. However, the lawsuit filed by the family contends that they were also controlling traffic near the intersection when passing traffic struck the decedent.

The suit claimed that one of the officers “walked with [the plaintiff] into the intersection where he was to clean up debris and then abandoned [the plaintiff].” The suit also claims that one or both officers then “allowed traffic to resume travel southbound into the intersection where [the plaintiff] was working.” The defendant officers admitted that a squad car to the north of the intersection was removed, however, they denied the car was blocking traffic or that they had any involvement in controlling the flow of traffic around the accident. The officers were both dismissed from the suit as part of the mediated agreement with the city.

Elements of negligence

 This is a tragic accident involving a young man who lost his life while trying to clear an accident for the city. The plaintiff contended that the officers who removed the squad car from blocking traffic were responsible for the wrongful death because they allowed traffic to proceed through the intersection while the accident was still being cleared. Ultimately, the city denied these claims but ended up paying the family of the slain tow truck driver $2 million to make the case go away.

Talk to a Champaign, IL Personal Injury Lawyer Today 

Have you been injured due to the negligence of another party? If so, call the Champaign, IL personal injury lawyers at Patel Law, PC today to schedule a consultation and allow us to begin preparing your case right away.

Source:

news-gazette.com/news/2-million-settlement-approved-in-tow-truck-drivers-death/article_b3217325-5bb5-58d7-80b2-1a0ea72f7063.html