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Children of Popular Local Motorcyclist Killed in 2016 Crash Settle Lawsuit With Owner of Car Which Killed Him

Published on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 | 5:18 am
 

The children of popular Pasadena motorcyclist Oscar Chavez, who died in October 2016 after being struck by a speeding 2015 Tesla Model S 85D allegedly driven by a suspected car thief, are reported to have settled a lawsuit they filed against the registered owner of the vehicle.

The suit was filed in June 2017 and alleged negligence and wrongful death on the part of car owner Charles Zweiback, who was not the driver or a passenger of his car during the collision that killed Chavez.

Chavez’s children – Brandon Chavez of Pasadena, Christie Chavez of Los Angeles, Monique Chavez of Moreno Valley, Christopher Chavez of Tarzana and Andrea Barry of Rialto – alleged that the man who had been driving the Tesla was allowed by Zweiback to use his vehicle.

Zweiback’s lawyers argued he had no liability because the driver had stolen the vehicle from Zweiback.

“Before the accident, I never gave anyone permission other than my wife to drive my Tesla,” Zweiback said in a sworn statement.

The lawyers for the plaintiffs did not disclose the terms of the settlement, according to a MyNewsLA report.

Chavez, 60, was riding his motorcycle on Washington Boulevard near North Marengo Avenue in Pasadena at about 11:45 p.m. on October 6, 2016, when the gray Tesla, which was speeding northbound along Marengo slammed into him. He died at the scene.

The driver, later identified as Donte Antoine Fox, 22, of Pasadena, was arrested by traffic investigators on June 21, 2018, and was charged with one count each of murder, vehicular manslaughter in the operation of a vessel, hit-and-run driving resulting in death, grand theft of an automobile and driving or taking a vehicle without consent.

Fox now faces more than 36 years to life in state prison if convicted as charged.

Fox pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment a month later.

He remains in custody, with bail set at $2.1 million, and is due at the Pasadena Courthouse on July 23 for a pretrial hearing.

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