The City of Chicago has agreed to pay $27 million to the family of a woman killed during a police chase after newly uncovered evidence surfaced while the case was headed for a new trial.
The settlement stems from the 2017 death of 47-year-old Stacy Vaughn-Harrell, a mother of six who was killed when a vehicle fleeing police crashed into her car. Her daughter, Kimberlyn Myers, survived the crash but suffered injuries.
Earlier Jury Award and Appeal
In 2023, a jury awarded the family $10 million in damages after finding the city responsible for the fatal crash. Evidence presented during the trial indicated police officers were pursuing a suspect without activating emergency lights or sirens.
City attorneys later appealed the verdict and successfully secured a new trial. However, during preparations for the retrial, additional evidence and video footage emerged that had not been shown to the original jury.
New Evidence Raises Concerns
Among the newly surfaced materials was video reportedly showing Myers climbing over her mother’s body after the crash while officers were allegedly nearby and failed to provide immediate assistance.
Attorneys representing the family also alleged that several officers did not activate their body cameras during the incident or delayed doing so. Additional claims suggested that officers handling evidence at the scene had ties to disgraced former Chicago police sergeant Ronald Watts, who was previously convicted in a federal corruption case.
Family attorneys argued the new evidence could support allegations of a broader cover-up connected to the police pursuit and the response following the crash.
City Reassesses Legal Risk
According to the city’s law department, the emergence of substantial new evidence significantly altered the risk associated with retrying the case. Officials determined a settlement was preferable to the possibility of a larger jury award.
Under the proposed agreement, approximately $20 million would be paid by taxpayers, while about $7 million would be covered through the city’s insurance.
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 collided with Vaughn-Harrell’s car.
Settlement Among Largest for Police Chase Case
The settlement must still receive final approval from the Chicago City Council, which is expected to review the agreement later this week.
If approved, the payout would rank among the largest settlements tied to a police pursuit incident in Chicago. The case has drawn scrutiny over police chase policies, body camera usage, and potential misconduct in the aftermath of the crash.
For Vaughn-Harrell’s family, the case has been about more than financial compensation. Her daughter said the loss has left years of memories that can never be recovered.
