Baltimore's spending panel is set to authorize a $34,000 payout to a woman who was struck by a police car after its brakes failed.
The money, which the Board of Estimates is scheduled to consider Wednesday, would settle a $500,000 lawsuit brought by Toya Williamson-Hayes against the city and Officer James Andrew Wynne concerning a Sept. 28, 2011, car accident in the 1900 block of Woodbourne Ave.
At about 7 that night, Wynne was on routine patrol in the Loch Raven neighborhood in Northeast Baltimore. He saw an individual riding a dirt bike endangering pedestrians and called for the aviation unit to respond, city documents state.
Wynne and other police vehicles surrounded the area, allowing police to apprehend the suspect without chasing him, the city said. The suspect ditched his dirt bike and ran. Wynne and other offices caught and arrested him, according to the city.
Wynne returned to his vehicle and attempted to make a three-point turn, but discovered the vehicle's brakes were no longer working, the city said. He began to yell and wave at pedestrians to get out of the way, but the car jumped the curb and struck Williamson-Hayes. She injured her back and knee in the accident, and reports chronic pain, according to the city.
Williamson-Hayes' medical bills total $20,000 to date, the city said.
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