Local News in Brief : Westminster : Council Rejects Claim in Woman’s Crash Death
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The City Council has unanimously denied a claim filed against the city and Police Department on behalf of the family of Jessica Warren, one of two women killed Christmas Day when their car was struck by a Westminster police car.
“Denial was recommended by our risk manager,” interim City Manager Jerry Kenney said.
The claim alleged that the unidentified police officer driving the car was traveling at a “dangerously high rate of speed” in excess of 65 m.p.h. through the intersection of Newland Street and Westminster Avenue when the vehicle struck Warren’s car, killing her and her companion, Dawn Hammond, 20.
The council voted to deny the claim Tuesday night.
John W. Nelson, an attorney for the family, said he filed the wrongful death claim Jan. 13. The claim alleges that the officer was negligent, failed to adhere to the rules of the road and failed to adhere to the Police Department’s stated policy.
The claim was filed by Warren’s parents, William and Gavonne Warren, and brothers, Mark C. Warren and Brenton S. Warren. The amount of damages was not specified.
A lawsuit cannot be filed over such incidents until a claim is lodged with a governmental body and subsequently denied.
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