The family of a bicyclist who died after being involved in a crash with a Santa Maria transit bus last month has filed claims against the City of Santa Maria.
Ruben M. Ruiz, the Ventura-based attorney representing the family of Veronica Zamora, says four claims in total were filed on April 23. One for Zamora’s spouse and three for her children, one of whom is still a minor.
Zamora was pronounced brain dead April 8 and taken off life support two days later following the April 2 crash that happened at the corner of Caballero and McCoy Lane.
Police have done a reconstruction of the accident scene but so far, have not released additional information regarding the investigation.
City officials previously said a toxicology report found the bus driver, who is a contract employee, was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash.
The City on Thursday said it did not have a comment on the claims. Calls to First Transit, which the City says operates the buses, have not been returned.
Ruiz says the City has 45 days from April 23 to accept or reject the claims.
If rejected, Ruiz says the family will likely file a civil lawsuit, but said what they would be seeking has not yet been established.
Ruiz says the family of Zamora, who was buried just last week, is devastated by her death.
He says they are conducting their own investigation to determine how the collision happened and adds that the family has not had any contact with City officials since the death of Zamora.
