The family of a girl who was fatally struck inside a vehicle by a Mercedes fleeing Chicago police four years ago was awarded nearly $80 million by a Cook County jury on Wednesday.
The 2020 crash killed Da’Karia Spicer and severely injured her 5-year-old brother.
Police had tried to pull over the Mercedes in September 2020, but the driver sped west on 80th Street and first crashed into a gray car driven by a 57-year-old woman before striking the vehicle driven by Da’Karia’s father, Kevin in the 8000 block of South Halsted Street.
Before the five-day trial, the City of Chicago admitted liability for the fatal collision. Because of the admission, the trial was set to determine exactly how much the city would pay Spicer’s family.
Before Judge Preston Jones, the jury awarded the Spicer family $79.85 million.
“The impact of this incident was catastrophic and the Spicer family lost a bright, talented and smart 10-year-old girl who was the absolute light of their lives,” Spicer family lawyer, Patrick A. Salvi II said in a statement.
“We very deeply thank this jury for their service and for recognizing the magnitude of the family’s loss.”
Attorneys for the city weren’t available for comment Wednesday evening.
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