The family of a young girl who was fatally struck inside a vehicle by a Mercedes fleeing from Chicago police four years ago was awarded nearly $80 million by a Cook County jury Wednesday.
The 2020 crash killed Da’Karia Spicer and seriously injured her 5-year-old brother.
Police had attempted to stop the Mercedes in September 2020, but the driver sped west on 80th Street and first hit a gray car driven by a 57-year-old woman before hitting the vehicle driven by Da’Karia’s father, Kevin. 8000 block of South Halsted Street.
Before the five-day trial, the city of Chicago admitted responsibility for the fatal collision. Because of this admission, the trial had to determine exactly how much the city would pay Spicer’s family.
Before Judge Preston Jones, the jury awarded the Spicer family $79.85 million.
“The impact of this incident was catastrophic and the Spicer family lost a bright, talented and intelligent 10-year-old girl who was the absolute light of their life,” said Spicer family attorney Patrick A. Salvi II, in a press release.
“We thank this jury very deeply for their service and for recognizing the magnitude of the family’s loss.”
Lawyers for the city were not available for comment Wednesday evening.
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