$1.15M Settlement in Fatal Crash of Stolen Work Van

The family of a woman and her 14-year-old daughter who were killed when the car they were in was struck by a fleeing stolen work van earlier this year in New Mexico has reached a $1.15 million settlement with the company that owned the van.

The van, which had been left running in an employee’s driveway on Jan. 18, 2018, in Albuquerque, N.M., was stolen and crashed into another car while being chased by police, according to a Sept. 6 story by WRQE News 13.

Killed in the crash were Shaunna Arredondo-Boling, 39, and her daughter, Shaylee, who was a student at Sandia High School. Arredondo-Boling’s three-year-old son was also in the car and was injured.

The work van, owned by M Electrician Inc., was idling unattended in an employee’s driveway when it was stolen by Elexus Groves, 21, and Paul Garcia, 24, the story reported. Groves drove the van and then tried to elude police when they were spotted, running a stop sign before crashing into the car carrying the family. Shaylee Boling died at the scene and her mother died two weeks later of her injuries.

Photo credit: iStockphoto.com/tillsonburg

David Arredondo, the husband of Shaunna Arredondo-Boling and stepfather of Shaylee Boling, filed a lawsuit in the case in February, alleging that the stolen van should not have been left running unattended in the driveway, leaving it vulnerable to theft.

Groves and Garcia are charged with two counts of first-degree murder, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, tampering with evidence and related charges. Both are being held in jail.

Most of the settlement will be provided to the surviving three-year-old boy on his 18th birthday, the story reported.

These kinds of tragic legal cases occur every day when innocent victims are severely hurt or killed in vehicle crashes through no fault of their own due to the actions, inattentiveness or indifference of others. That’s why it is critical to have a legal team on your side that uncovers every fact to bolster your case and maximize your damage award.

We here at MyPhillyLawyer stand ready to assist you with your legal case if you or a loved one is ever seriously injured in a vehicle accident or incident anywhere in the United States.

We represent the families of victims who die in such tragedies as well, to ensure that their families receive every penny of damages that they are eligible to receive.

Call MyPhillyLawyer at 215-227-2727 or toll-free at 1-(866) 352-4572 anytime and our experienced, compassionate, aggressive team of attorneys and support staff will be there for you and your family every step of the way as we manage your case through the legal system.

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