$5.1 million awarded to children and surviving spouse in high speed police chase
Jurors awarded $5.1 million to the survivors of two people killed in an accident in Portville following a high-speed chase by the NYS Police. The State Supreme Court jury deliberated for three hours before returning a wrongful death award of $4.7 million for the family of the driver of the car, a mother of three, killed in the accident. The female victim was driving west on Route 417 when a pickup truck crashed head-on into her auto. The pickup truck, at the time of the collision, was being pursued by the NYS Police at a high rate of speed. The jury found the actions of the driver and passenger, both experienced NYS Troopers, to be reckless by initiatiing and continuing a high-speed pursuit of an intoxicated driver at speeds well over 100 miles per hour through the main street of the village. The driver of the auto was pronounced dead on arrival at Olean General Hospital. Mr. Letro's use of trial exhibits in this case was the subject of articles in both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.
