SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Santa Barbara County and the Sheriff's Department have agreed to pay $4.8 million dollars in settlement to the survivors of a wrong way 'fatal accident' back in 2009.
The accident killed two people and left two others with serious injuries.
Central Coast News spoke with the family's attorney who says the accident was caused by negligent actions of a Santa Barbara County Sheriff's deputy.
According to the lawsuit, the attorney for Arredondo family says the deputy's actions were in violation of department policy and resulted in this tragedy.
Jose Arrendondo was followed by his son 18-year-old Marcos and sisters, Yessica and Karina.
An intoxicated driver named Richard Rodriguez entered the freeway and began driving in the opposite direction North on the Southbound 101.
Santa Barbara Sheriff's Deputy Jeremy Rodgers responded to the report.
Attorneys say Rodgers merged slowly in the lane directly in front of the Arredondos forcing them into the path of the wrong way driver.
"The wrong way driver smashed into his son, killing his son, killing his wife's sister and grievously injuring the two girls," says the family's lawyer Barry Cappello. "We were actually appalled. The deputy should've never entered the freeway. It's just evidence of lack of proper training."
He says the whole accident was caught on a camera mounted in Deputy Rodgers' car.
"Mom and Dad witnessed their son die in front of them," says Cappello. "You can see on the video; they were screaming and crying and trying to go to the car where their daughters were grievously, massively injured."
Cappello says due to the actions of Deputy Rodgers, the two daughters face lifelong injuries. Cappello is not releasing the video of the fatal accident.
He says the estimated damages from the fatal accident to total more than $12 million but the family is grateful for the amount settled and most of the money will go toward their medical expenses.
