A family is suing the city of San Diego for $50 million after their relative, Monica Cameroni De Adams, died inside her minivan, which was towed following a collision with a drunk driver in 2023.
When a drunk driver crashed into two vehicles on November 5, 2023, De Adams, 65, who was experiencing homelessness and living in the minivan, was inside, according to reports. The vehicle was subsequently towed to an impound lot. A month later, her body was discovered inside the minivan.
“Her death was proximately caused by leaving her alone, struggling with her injuries inside of her car, entombing her in her car, taking her car to the tow yard and leaving her there to die,” said attorney John Carpenter, representing the family, according to Live 5 News.
Jordan Lopez, 24, the driver responsible for the crash, was sentenced to probation with a six-year prison sentence suspended for five years after pleading guilty to DUI causing injury. Lopez’s blood-alcohol content registered over 0.15%, reported the San Diego Union-Tribune.
According to the Los Angeles Times, De Adams was asleep in the middle row of the Honda Odyssey minivan when Lopez crashed into it. Her body was found after an employee at the impound lot noticed an unusual smell.
“In our assessment, she died some time after impact and probably perished in the tow yard,” said Carpenter, as reported by the LA Times. “The officers and the tow truck operators failed to take any kind of inventory, or to see if there was a live person inside.”
The lawsuit claims that the van’s side door was pushed in during the collision, pushing into the middle row where De Adams was sleeping. Carpenter stated, according to the LA Times, that De Adams suffered “severe but survivable blunt force injuries from the collision.” She had fractures to her ribs, spine, and arm.
“The most basic review of a vehicle should include checking for occupants,” Carpenter said in a statement. “Instead, they towed the van away, essentially burying Monica alive.”
De Adams’ daughter reported her mother missing after she didn’t respond to birthday messages, according to Live 5 News. The San Diego Police Department and the San Diego City Attorney’s Office have not yet commented.
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