Teen Crash Victim’s Parents File Claim Against City

The parents of Donnie Bridgman, the 18-year-old Newport Harbor High School student killed when a vehicle loaded with classmates crashed after a party last spring, filed a wrongful death claim against the city Monday.

Bruce and Vickie Bridgman, the teen’s parents, contend that the city contributed to the accident because of poor road conditions and defective design. The claim is not a lawsuit, but state law requires that claims be filed before a government agency can be sued.

Donnie Bridgman was one of 10 students in a 1989 Chevrolet Blazer that went out of control and rolled over on May 23, ejecting eight of the students.

Bridgman was the only student killed, although claims say others were left with permanent injuries and severe dizziness, pain and scarring.

The Bridgmans are the owners of the vehicle, but it was driven by Jason Rausch, who was the group’s designated driver for the evening.

Among occupants thrown from the Blazer was Amanda Arthur, who suffered injuries that left her in a coma for nearly three months before she emerged to become the high school’s homecoming queen last month.

Arthur, 18, also has filed a claim against Newport Beach, alleging that flaws in the roadway and an improperly operated city sprinkler played a part in the crash. Also filing claims last week were vehicle occupants Daniel Townsend, 18, Kevy McNeill, 17, and William Watson, 18.

Rausch, 18, faces felony vehicular manslaughter charges and misdemeanor traffic charges and is expected to stand trial next month.