CALTRANS
AGREES TO PAYOUT T $3 MILLION PACT RESULTS FROM FATAL CRASH. 
Caltrans has
agreed to pay $3 million to three families involved in a 1995 crash that killed
three people and injured eight.
The plaintiffs
claimed that Caltrans had known previously that the ``twin bridges'' section of
Highway 138 an excessive fatality and injury crash rate but did nothing. The settlement
was reached March 5 during a conference in Court, according to court records.
The attorney for
the California Department of Transportation declined to comment except to say
the settlement is pending. ``Our office policy is not to make any comment
regarding cases,'' said the attorney .
$25 million in
damages, had been sought by the victims families. Thirteen adults and children
from the three families were in a 1981 Chevrolet covered pickup truck with a
camper shell, returning from Las Vegas on May 15, 1995, when an approaching
motorist crossed the double-yellow line and hit them head on.
In the truck were
six adults and seven children ranging in age from 18 months to 12 years. The
families had gone to Las Vegas to celebrate the first communion of a cousin.
Four people were
in the cab and nine in the back when their Chevy pickup collided in the,
unlighted twin bridges area, named for the two bridges over the Big Rock Wash.
The highway has
been a danger for years, but motorists frequently pass anyway.
The last fatal
collision there was in November 2000,.Caltrans was sued that same year as a
result of a fatal 1999 crash. Attorney for the families, previously said the thing
that makes the bridges dangerous is the sudden narrowing of the road and lack
of visibility. ``Caltrans has known about this particular stretch for more than
a decade and ... (did) nothing about it.'' was the allegation.
A Caltrans report
covering the period from October 1986 through September 1989 shows the fatality
and injury crash rate was 2 1/2 times the projected rate for similar highways. There were 13 collisions, 12 as a result of
motorists passing other cars by driving to the left of the double yellow lines. Caltrans' says the center line was striped in
both directions for a distance that exceeded the length required, and that
there were Do Not Pass and Narrow Bridge signs in place.
A later Caltrans report covering the period from January 1989 through December 1991 said the fatality and injury crash rate was more than six times the expected rate. The second report said there were 10 crashes between May 1989 and October 1991: three caused by excessive speed and drivers ignoring the double solid yellow lines, six because of unsafe passing movement, and one from a vehicle carrying lumber that protruded from the side.
If you have been injured in a crash call us Las Vegas, Injury Attorney Howard Roitman Now: 702.647.8550
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