The City of Chicago has agreed to pay $27 million to the family of a mother killed during a high-speed police chase after newly uncovered evidence prompted city officials to reconsider fighting the case in court.
The settlement is tied to the 2017 death of Stacy Vaughn-Harrell, a 47-year-old mother of six who was killed when a vehicle fleeing police crashed into the car she was driving. Her daughter, Kimberlyn Myers, survived the crash but was injured.
Jury Previously Awarded $10 Million
In 2023, a jury ruled the city was responsible for the deadly crash and awarded the family $10 million in damages. Jurors determined that officers involved in the pursuit were chasing a suspect vehicle without activating their emergency lights.
Chicago officials appealed that verdict and won a new trial, seeking to overturn the judgment.
However, during the appeal process, new evidence and video footage surfaced that had not been presented during the original trial.
Newly Revealed Video and Allegations
According to reports, the newly discovered video shows Myers climbing over her mother’s body after the crash while officers were allegedly nearby and did not immediately assist her.
Attorneys for the family also alleged that several officers either failed to activate their body cameras or delayed turning them on during critical moments following the crash.
Some of the officers connected to the case were also reportedly linked to disgraced former Chicago police sergeant Ronald Watts, whose corruption conviction previously raised questions about the credibility of certain officers tied to his unit.
City Opts to Settle
Facing the possibility that the new evidence could lead to a larger verdict at trial, the city decided to pursue a settlement instead.
Officials said the decision was made after reassessing the legal risks associated with retrying the case.
Under the proposed agreement, about $20 million of the settlement would be paid by taxpayers, while approximately $7 million would be covered by the city’s insurance.
Police Pursuit Policies Scrutinized
The lawsuit alleged that officers violated department pursuit policies by chasing the suspect in an unmarked vehicle before the fleeing driver ran multiple stop signs and slammed into Vaughn-Harrell’s car.
The case has drawn renewed attention to police chase policies and accountability within the Chicago Police Department.
The settlement still requires approval from the Chicago City Council. If approved, it will become one of the largest payouts tied to a police pursuit incident in Chicago’s history.
For Vaughn-Harrell’s family, the case represents years of legal battles following a tragedy that claimed the life of a mother and left lasting impacts on her children.
