- Officer ran a stop sign at nearly 80 mph without sirens.
- Crash killed one person and seriously injured another.
- Supervisors reportedly called off the pursuit before impact.
The city of Bakersfield, California, is about to fork over a record $22 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit. The case stems from a fatal 2023 accident in which a now-former police officer ran a stop sign at 80 mph. He hit another car in the intersection, killing a 31-year-old driver and injuring another person in the vehicle.
Legal counsel reached a settlement on February 23rd after pre-trial hearings and jury selection. Attorneys for Ana Hernandez, the injured passenger, and the family of Mario Lares, the deceased driver, accepted the offer, bringing to a close a case that has stretched on for more than three years.
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According to court filings, then-Officer Ricardo Robles was traveling at nearly 80 mph when he ran a stop sign at the intersection of South Vineland and Muller Roads around 2:21 a.m. in January 2023.
The lawsuit alleges he entered the poorly lit rural intersection without activating overhead emergency lights or a siren, despite departmental Code 3 policies requiring both when clearing intersections during emergency responses. Supervisors had reportedly called off the vehicle pursuit before the crash occurred.
Robles’ patrol vehicle struck a 2013 Honda Accord carrying Lares and Hernandez. The force of the impact pushed the Honda off the roadway and onto a dirt shoulder before it came to rest on its side. Lares died from injuries sustained in the crash.
Hernandez survived but continues to deal with lasting physical and emotional trauma. According to prior reporting and statements from her legal team, she suffered head injuries and serious back damage that required surgical hardware and ongoing physical therapy. She also reportedly has a large leg injury that doctors have been unable to fully correct.
In 2024, Robles pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter in connection with the accident. He was sentenced to two years of probation, 500 hours of community service, and served one day in jail. He also lost his job and certification as a police officer.
Speaking to SFGate, Daniel Rodriguez, founder and president of Rodriguez & Associates, described the $22 million settlement as a record payout for the city and emphasized that the case centered on violations of basic safety protocols. “If it would have been one of us,” Rodriguez said, referring to a civilian driver, “I don’t think anyone ever could be out of custody.”
The whole episode puts uncomfortable questions about policing back under the spotlight. Fair treatment at the justice system level is a problem. Reasonable pursuit tactics and procedures are another one. Both play a role in the outcome here.