BETTENDORF, Iowa — The City of Bettendorf has approved a $2.4 million settlement in connection to a deadly crash on the I-74 Bridge pedestrian path in May 2022 that killed two people and seriously injured a third when a drunk driver drove onto the pedestrian path.
The Bettendorf City Council approved the settlement on Tuesday, June 18. City Administrator Decker Ploehn said the City is not admitting fault, but the Bettendorf City Council has determined the settlement is in the best interest of the city.
A total of $2,425,000 will be paid to the lone survivor and the families of the two deceased.
- The City of Bettendorf will pay $1,125,000 to the family of 18-year-old Anthony Castaneda, who died in the crash. The City of Moline will pay an additional $70,000.
- The City of Bettendorf will pay $750,000 to the family of 21-year-old Ethan L. Gonzalez, who also died in the crash.
- The City of Bettendorf will pay $450,000 to Charles Bowen, who was seriously injured in the crash. The City of Moline will also pay an additional $30,000 to Bowen.
On May 24, 2022, Gonzalez and Castaneda were killed and Bowen was seriously injured when Chhabria Harris drove onto the bridge's pedestrian pathway and struck them with her SUV.
Harris pled guilty to one count of aggravated DUI and was sentenced to 20 years in prison in November 2023.
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