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The family of a 21-year-old New Mexico woman who was killed in 2013 when the car she was traveling in was struck by a speeding police cruiser will receive an $8.5 million settlement in the case.

Ashley Browder was killed on Feb. 10, 2013, when a police cruiser, being driven by an off-duty police officer, smashed into the car being driven by Ashley’s then 19-year-old sister, Lindsay, in an intersection in Albuquerque, N.M., according to a March 17 story in The Albuquerque Journal.

Ashley Browder died at the scene, while Lindsay Browder was seriously injured in the crash, which occurred at 1:30 a.m. at the intersection of Paseo del Norte and Eagle Ranch NW streets. The policed cruiser was being driven by off-duty Albuquerque Police Sgt. Adam Casaus, who was allegedly speeding and ran a red light before the impact. The officer was wearing his police uniform and had his vehicle’s emergency lights activated as he drove into the intersection at more than 60 mph when he struck the Browder vehicle.

A police investigation determined that the officer “had driven 8.8 miles across town in less than eight minutes.” The officer first told investigators that he had been pursuing another vehicle that was driving dangerously, but witnesses told investigators they observed no such vehicle or pursuit. The officer was charged in 2013 with vehicular homicide resulting in death and great bodily injury by vehicle, but was found guilty of a lesser charge – careless driving – in 2014 in connection with the crash. He was sentenced 90 days in jail, which was the maximum allowed by law, and his law enforcement certification was revoked by the Law Enforcement Academy.

The city of Albuquerque also agreed as part of the settlement to implement additional police driver training and oversight to prevent such an incident from occurring again, according to the plaintiff’s attorneys. Plaques honoring Ashley Browder’s memory will also be installed in police stations across the city and city police cars will be equipped with bumper stickers that ask residents to report any improper driving by officers.

These kinds of tragic legal cases occur every day when innocent victims are severely hurt or killed in vehicle crashes through no fault of their own due to the actions, inattentiveness or indifference of others. That’s why it is critical to have a legal team on your side that uncovers every fact to bolster your case and maximize your damage award.

We here at MyPhillyLawyer stand ready to assist you with your legal case if you or a loved one is ever seriously injured in a vehicle incident or accident anywhere in the United States.

We represent the families of victims who die in such tragedies as well, to ensure that their families receive every penny of damages that they are eligible to receive.

Call MyPhillyLawyer at 215-227-2727 or toll-free at 1-866-920-0352 anytime and our experienced, compassionate, aggressive team of attorneys and support staff will be there for you and your family every step of the way as we manage your case through the legal system.

When Winning Matters Most, Call MyPhillyLawyer.