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Private company reenacts crash after lawsuit names City of Salinas

Salinas city attorney Chris Callihan said police closed part of North Davis Road Wednesday from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. near Westridge Shopping Center. Officers assisted a private company, funded by the city, as it recreated an accident scene which originally happened February 8, 2013.

Police said it was a vehicle vs. pedestrian accident and the lawsuit was initially filed against the City of Salinas August 8, 2013.

The lawsuit said a woman was in the crosswalk when a pick-up truck ran her over. She survived, but medical expenses added up following a fractured skull, spine and a month-long coma, the suit alleges.

The shopping center owners, Sammut Brothers, Costco and the driver of the car are also named in the lawsuit.

A Porsche decked out with high-tech cameras documented the turn the truck made back in 2013 to simulate the crash. In a separate demonstration, a woman positioned herself near the point of contact in the crosswalk.

Callihan said the city is in the discovery phase. He said reenactments are done if there is a dispute over what happened or who may be at fault.

“This is a part of the City’s defense of this case. The costs will be incurred by the City. I do not have an estimate of the total costs,” said Callihan in an email.

During the reenactment, traffic was diverted through the shopping center parking lot. Salinas police said the time of day to block off the streets was crucial to keeping cars moving.

It was “past the rush lunch and right before rush hour traffic,” said Sgt. Gerry Ross with Salinas police.

Click here to view the court documents

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