Illinois County to Pay $3.3 Million to Woman Killed in Police Pursuit

ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) – Winnebago County officials will pay $3.3 million to the family of a Rockford woman killed in a police pursuit.

Joy Lambert, 55, was killed when a driver fleeing a sheriff’s deputy at speeds that reached 91 mph slammed into her car in February 2016.

Lambert’s family filed a wrongful death suit against the county later that year, arguing the chase wasn’t necessary because the driver had only been speeding. Months before Lambert`s death Sheriff Gary Caruana loosened restrictions on pursuits, saying the county was dealing with an epidemic of drivers fleeing traffic stops.

Caruana, the sheriff, has previously offered condolences to Lambert`s family and blamed the fleeing driver for her death.