CORONA, Calif. (KNX) — Nine workers injured when part of a bridge over the 91 Freeway in Corona collapsed in 2015 have reached a multimillion-dollar settlement with the project’s developers.
The defendants were Parsons Corporation, Caltrans, Walsh Construction Group, Clark Construction Group, Sequoia Consultants, Southstar Engineering, Simkins Corporation, HNTB Corporation, and one other whose identity was not publicly disclosed. All have contributed to a $38.5 million pot to paid to those hurt in the collapse.
Late in the evening of Oct. 9, 2015, wooden supports and jacks used to lower the bridge over East Grand Boulevard gave way, causing a concrete slab to drop 16 inches. The collapse caused workers to be thrown from scaffolding, some falling as much as 40 feet to the ground.
Plaintiffs alleged supervisors failed to inspect the bridge and determine its weight. Contractors used manual jacks and should have been using computerized ones that could compensate for imbalances.
A Riverside County Superior Court judge approved the deal on March 9, Chris Aitken, an attorney for one of the victims, told The Riverside Press Enterprise. Aitken’s client, 56-year-old James “Chip” Chaffee of Buena Park, suffered a brain injury in connection with the incident. Chaffee said he has trouble walking long distances without a cane or bending over due to his injury. He also has difficulty controlling his emotions.
Chafee will receive a $5 million share from the payout, Aitken said.
Defendants admitted no wrongdoing or liability in agreeing to hand over the settlement money.
A Caltrans spokesperson told the Press Enterprise that the agency “ultimately had little direct involvement in the litigation or settlement,” and that its portion of the sum was covered by insurance.
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