Caltrans Ordered to Pay $4.9 Million in Fatal Simi Crash
Caltrans was ordered Tuesday to pay $4.9 million to the family of a Simi Valley woman killed in a 1981 traffic accident, the largest wrongful-death award in Ventura County history, according to attorneys.
Wendy Muenzer, a 28-year-old Simi Valley schoolteacher, was killed in January, 1981, when a motorist ran a red light at the Sycamore Drive off-ramp of the eastbound Simi Valley Freeway.
Testimony showed that a traffic light at the base of the off-ramp had not met California Department of Transportation standards, said attorney Edward Barker, who represented Muenzer’s family. The yellow part of the signal lasted only three seconds, whereas state regulations require 4 1/2 seconds, Barker said.
The motorist was “trapped” by the short yellow light and forced to go through the red light, according to Barker.
Barker maintained that Caltrans was “arrogant” because it did not bring the signal up to standard until November, 1985. More than 12 accidents had occurred at the intersection since 1975, when the light was installed, he said, arguing that Caltrans officials “in essence shut their eyes to the fact that there had been many accidents.”
Caltrans attorneys said the agency conducted an investigation after the accident that led to the repair of the traffic light.
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