KGUN9 On Your Side, Tucson News, Weather & SportsWilliams settles wrongful death suit for $2.3M
Associated Press - December 17, 2009 7:14 PM ET
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) - The family of a Mesa motorcyclist who died in a crash involving a Williams police officer has settled a wrongful death lawsuit with the city for $2.3 million.
Williams officials say the award to the family of James A. Innes was paid out by the city's insurance company.
The 46-year-old Innes was killed May 20 when his motorcycle ran into a police car that was making a U-turn on Highway 64 north of Williams. Innes died at the scene and the driver of the police car - 24-year-old officer Brandon E. Hernandez - suffered minor injuries.
Coconino County authorities found no criminal wrongdoing by Hernandez, but the officer was issued a ticket by the state Department of Public Safety for making an unsafe turn.
Authorities say tests showed Innes had a blood-alcohol content of 0.178 percent at the time of his death - more than twice the state's legal limit of 0.08 percent - and had marijuana in his system.
Information from: Arizona Daily Sun, http://www.azdailysun.com/
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