Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit for $1.775 Million

By Andrew Weatherford

Published on June 11, 2009

Last month the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority board agreed to settle a wrongful death lawsuit for $1.775 million with the family of Miguel Muniz, 66, of Cleveland. Mr. Muniz died last year from injuries he suffered when a Regional Transit Authority (RTA) bus struck him on the morning of September 30th.

The accident occurred at the intersection of West Prospect Avenue and Superior Avenue. An RTA bus driven by Anedra Smith, 42, of Cleveland, was taking a left turn onto Superior Avenue when it hit Mr. Muniz as he was in the crosswalk. According to Michael Saltzer, the attorney for the Muniz family, the victim had the right of way before the accident. The bus driver was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide.

Mr. Muniz's death resulted in a training program called "Left Turn Blitz" in which all 1200 RTA drivers received instruction to wait for two seconds before making a left turn to give them time to look for pedestrians and to help prevent the likelihood of similar accidents from occurring.

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