David Crosby—a performing artist for the iconic folk rock band Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer—settled a lawsuit filed against him by a Santa Ynez man who was injured after getting struck by Crosby’s car, according to court documents.
Jose Gildardo Luquin Jimenez, who was 46 at the time of the incident, was jogging westbound with his son on Baseline Avenue in Santa Ynez during the early evening of March 22, 2015, when he was struck from behind by a Tesla Model S driven by Crosby, according to a lawsuit filed on April 15 in the Cook Division of Santa Barbara County Superior Court.
A California Highway Patrol traffic collision report obtained by the Sun indicates Crosby was driving at 55 miles per hour—the posted speed limit—when Jimenez was struck.
Jimenez was seriously injured. The collision report states he was airlifted to Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara with a broken right shoulder and arm, broken ribs, a broken left leg, and damage to his kidneys.
Summarized statements taken by police from Crosby and witnesses shortly after the collision were redacted from the report, but USA Today reported that Crosby immediately stopped to render aid.
The report states the 74-year-old Crosby didn’t see Jimenez because he was temporarily blinded by the glare of the sun.
But that’s not what Jimenez and his family claim. In the lawsuit, they allege Crosby—who’s listed as “John Doe” in the lawsuit—was driving recklessly and “ingested alcohol and/or prescription drugs … and/or hallucinogens” that compromised his ability to drive.
The report doesn’t state whether drugs or alcohol were a factor. Crosby wasn’t injured.
Even though the report states Crosby was the one who caused the collision, the police partially faulted Jimenez for jaywalking.
Michael Jensen, Crosby’s spokesman, wasn’t able to reply to an inquiry made by the Sun before press time.
The Sun couldn’t reach Jimenez despite several attempts, and the family’s attorney, James McKiernan, didn’t want to comment for the story.
Court documents indicate Jimenez’s 15-year-old son, Jose, watched his father get struck by the car and has since received extensive counseling therapy.
In the lawsuit, the family faults Crosby with loss of consortium and infliction of emotional distress.
Jimenez’s injuries effectively leave him disabled for the rest of his life “due to extensive past and future medical care and treatment for his injuries and his continuing inability to return to work for the balance of his work life,” according to settlement documents filed on May 11.
Court documents show that the settlement—which has yet to be formally approved by a judge—lists Jimenez as receiving $2.95 million, while his son received $50,000 for emotional distress.
This article appears in Jun 9-16, 2016.