The Yonkers City Council approved a settlement of $8.5 Million stemming from a tragic high speed police chase and crash in 2015 at their meeting on Feb. 13. And combined with an earlier settlement of $1.5 Million for this same accident, the matter is finally closed for the city and the victims.
The incident occured on Nov. 23, 2015, when Yonkers Police received a 911 call about two persons in a van breaking into parking meters. The same van was linked to a robbery earlier that day.
When YPD officers attempted to pull over the vehicle a high speed chase ensued, with estimated speeds of 90 MPH. When the van reached Warburton Ave. near the Greystone train station, it crossed over the yellow line and crashed into another vehicle traveling south.
The driver of the other vehicle, 46-year old Sharlene Stinson, died at the scene. The two persons in the van were teens. 16 year old Jerry Crawford died a Westchester Medical Center. The 14 year old, now 22 years old, identified as Sha’de Lane, suffered severe injuries that required 24 hour care.
The $8.5 Million settlement is broken down as follows:
- $500,000.00 to pay an existing Medicaid lien.
- $500,000.00 to cover a loss of services claim to caretaker, Christine Vargas.
- $2,801,379.99 for attorney’s fees.
- $1,448,620.01 for a trust for the victim, Sha’de Lane.
- $3,250,000.00 to three structured settlement annuities for Sha’de Lane.
Last year, the City Council approved a $1.5 Million settlement for the family of Sharlene Stinson.
Both lawsuits claimed that Yonkers police conducted the high speed chase with a reckless disregard for public safety. But in approving the settlement, Council Anthony Merante said that Yonkers police did nothing wrong. “Corporation Counsel has recommended that we accept this settlement, but that night there were bad decisions made by kids, and parents, make sure you know who your kids are with. The police didn’t do anything wrong that night. Today, the police might have backed off from the chase, but tonight the taxpayers have to pay for Police officers doing their job. I’m disappointed in the system.”
The Council approved the settlment by a 6-0 vote, with Council President Collins-Bellamy absent.