BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) \u2014 The City of Bakersfield reached a record $22 million settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the city and a former Bakersfield police officer on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
In 2023, Ricardo Robles collided with a car at the intersection of South Vineland and Muller road.<\/p>\n
Around 2 a.m., Robles followed a chase he was not involved in.\u00a0He followed it from a few intersections over and drove at speeds over 100 miles an hour.\u00a0At the same time, Mario Lares and Ana Hernandez were leaving work after a long day, and made a protected turn into the intersection of South Vineland Road.<\/p>\n
Entering at the same time was Robles, driving through a stop sign, with no emergency lights on. Robles collided with Lares and Hernandez at 74 miles an hour.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt t-boned this little Honda, it hit it so hard, it sent it flying in the air 100 feet. In fact, when the responders got there, they didn\u2019t even know the other car existed. It wasn\u2019t until they heard moaning and a little bit of screaming that they went over there,\u201d said Daniel Rodriguez, the plaintiffs\u2019 attorney.<\/p>\n
Lares, the driver, was killed and Hernandez was left severely injured.<\/p>\n
The mother, father and widow of Lares were in court when the settlement was announced.<\/p>\n
The mother was in tears. Ana Hernandez and her father were also present.<\/p>\n
The settlement hearing signified the end, but reminded those affected of the tragedy that occurred that night.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe city has acknowledged that, Mr. Robles has acknowledged that; he is no longer working for the City Police Department or the city, but he did acknowledge this unfortunate loss,\u201d said Mick Marderosian, an attorney for the city of Bakersfield.<\/p>\n
In 2024, Ricardo Robles pleaded no-contest to vehicular manslaughter during a criminal trial, and was sentenced to two years of probation and 500 hours of community service.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I\u2019m wondering what you think it would have been like if it was a civilian who killed an officer running a stop sign. And I can\u2019t help but think they probably would have named the street after the officer,\u201d said Rodriguez.<\/p>\n
The $22 million is set to be paid by June 1, with distributing amounts to the plaintiffs, still to be discussed.<\/p>\n
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