California water district to pay $3 million to family of deputy killed in crash

By Jim Greene

Published on December 22, 2005

Tuolumne County Sheriff's Deputy Dave Grant was responding to a plane crash near Sonora, about 50 miles west of Yosemite National Park, when he swerved to avoid a Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) pickup truck and another vehicle and hit a tree.

TUD water treatment plant operator Jeffrey Meyer was turning onto a state highway when Grant approached from Meyer's left with sirens and flashing lights on. Grant swerved first to avoid Meyer, then again to avoid a car driven by area resident Sunny Lockwood..

An incident report by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) found Meyer at fault for encroaching on Grant's right-of-way. According to the report, Grant was traveling at just under 60 mph at the time of the crash. In statements taken at the scene, both Meyer and Lockwood estimated Grant's speed as significantly higher.

The CHP also reported that Grant's car glanced off the front of the TUD truck, which was 13 feet into the intersection, and that, had Grant not had to avoid Lockwood's car, the officer probably would have avoided crashing. Charges of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter against Meyer were recommended.

A family attorney called Grant a hero for taking evasive action necessary to save the lives of Meyer and Lockwood.