Settlement Reached in Maryland Bridge Crash Lawsuit

Attorneys have reached a settlement in a lawsuit over a fatal crash on the Bay Bridge in the summer of 2008.

Fifty-seven-year-old John Short died after he swerved his tractor-trailer to avoid hitting Candy Baldwin’s oncoming car. The truck crashed through a jersey barrier and plummeted into the Chesapeake Bay, 30 feet below.

Baldwin’s attorney says Short’s family has agreed to a $100,000 settlement. That’s the maximum amount payable through Baldwin’s insurance policy.

Baldwin was 19 years old at the time of the crash. An investigation determined she had a blood-alcohol level of .03 percent, which prosecutors decided was too low to press criminal charges. She was charged only with traffic offenses.

Her attorney, Ted Staples, says Baldwin is remorseful. He says she’s married, pregnant and living in Alaska.