City to Pay $1.25 Million to Man Hurt in Police Car Crash
A Van Nuys man whose leg was crushed in an accident involving a Los Angeles Police Department patrol car was awarded $1.25 million Tuesday.
The Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted to pay the settlement to 28-year-old Isaac Zamora, a gardener.
“It’s an extremely reasonable settlement, given the circumstances of the case,” said Todd Macaluso, Zamora’s attorney, who said Zamora had no comment. “This was a hard-working kid who used to be very active and now has to cope with losing a limb.”
The LAPD deferred comment to the city attorney’s office, which would not discuss specifics of the case.
“The injury was just devastating to Mr. Zamora,” said Deputy City Atty. Dan Woodard. “What else could we say?”
The accident took place in September 1999 at Terra Bella Street and Beachy Avenue in Arleta. Zamora was waiting for a bus when an LAPD car, responding to a call for backup, sped through a red light and hit another car, Macaluso said. That car in turn hit Zamora, crushing his left leg against a light post.
After a series of grueling operations at County-USC Hospital, Zamora’s leg was eventually amputated above the knee.
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