A woman who was handcuffed and left inside a police vehicle that was struck by a moving train has officially received an $8.5 million settlement, closing one of the most shocking law enforcement negligence cases in recent history.
The incident occurred in 2022, when officers in Colorado pulled the woman over, handcuffed her, and placed her in the back of a patrol car that was inexplicably parked directly on active train tracks. Moments later, a freight train barreled through, slamming into the police cruiser at full speed โ with the woman trapped inside.
Miraculously, she survived, though she sustained multiple serious injuries, including broken bones, a traumatic brain injury, and lasting emotional trauma. Bodycam and dashcam footage of the horrific crash spread rapidly online, sparking national outrage and questions about police accountability.
Legal experts said the size of the settlement reflects not only the womanโs life-altering injuries but also the egregious recklessness of the officers involved.
Public reactions were explosive:
- โHow do you even explain parking on train tracks with someone inside?!โ
- โ$8.5M is deserved โ but it wonโt erase the trauma sheโs living with.โ
- โThose cops should never wear a badge again.โ
Police departments across the country faced renewed criticism, with many demanding stricter training and accountability measures to prevent such tragedies from ever happening again.
While the financial settlement offers some measure of justice, the scars โ both physical and emotional โ will remain with the victim forever.