Family Sues Deputy and Orange County Sheriff for Daughter’s Death

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on June 25, 2018

A high-speed chase that took the life of a 22-year-old person on June 12th of 2016 has resurfaced again as the family of the crash victim is now suing three separate entities: the deputy who instigated the chase, the person being chased, and the Orange County sheriff. According to official documents, the family of the deceased claims that the high speed chase should never have happened, and that the over-zealous activities of the deputy resulted in the collision that cost the suing family’s daughter her life.

Footage from the deputy’s body camera as well as the official reports depict the entire ordeal as it happened a little over two years ago. The on-duty deputy was performing a routine patrol through an area of Orange County when they noticed a black BMW changing lanes recklessly and cutting in front of other cars. The deputy then activated their emergency lights and attempted to perform a routine traffic stop, but the driver of the BMW decided against stopping and instead tried to flee from the officer.

The deputy decided to pursue, a fact which goes against the official policy of the Orange County Police Department. This policy clearly indicates that officers should not engage in a pursuit of vehicles that have been involved in traffic violations or civil infractions. Rather than heed this rule, the deputy in question began to drive their vehicle faster and faster in order to match the speed of the BMW. At a certain point, the two cars were driving upwards of 65 miles per hour in a residential area where the speed limit is only 25.

It is around this time that the driver of the BMW struck a vehicle being driven by the 22-year-old University of Central Florida student and caused severe damage to her car as well as fatal damage to her.

The primary reason why the family of the 22-year-old student decided to sue the deputy and the Orange County sheriff is that they believe the actions of the deputy as well as the subsequent repercussions met upon him by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office are unacceptable. The hope of the family is that this incident will spur more law enforcement groups from around the state and the country to act in the best interests of the people they are supposed to protect and not in such a way as to safeguard only those who wear a uniform.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.