Las Vegas, Nevada — A jury has awarded $15 million to the family of Eric Echevarria, who died in a car crash involving former Bishop Gorman basketball player Zaon Collins in 2020. This decision was rendered after a civil trial that evaluated the circumstances surrounding the tragic accident.
Collins, a standout player who went on to become a junior at Fresno State, was involved in a collision where he crashed into Echevarria’s vehicle. He previously pleaded guilty to charges of reckless driving resulting in death and vehicular manslaughter after the fatal incident. In 2023, Collins received a sentence of three months in jail, during which he served 56 days, in addition to three years of probation.
Echevarria’s family filed a lawsuit against Collins in 2021, claiming wrongful death and negligence. Their attorney, Ramzy Ladah, urged the jury to grant $35 million along with punitive damages during closing arguments. However, the jury ultimately decided against punitive damages but found Collins negligent, ruling that his actions contributed to Echevarria’s death.
Collins’ attorney, Stephanie Zinna, argued that both Collins and Echevarria had made mistakes that led to the crash. Specifically, she suggested that Collins was speeding and that Echevarria had turned in front of him. The jury determined that Echevarria was not at fault in the accident.
Ladah expressed relief that the Echevarria family achieved a measure of justice in civil court, contrasting it with the outcomes of the criminal case. “The jury sent a strong message that reckless driving will not be tolerated,” he stated.
Michele Grant, the jury foreperson, noted that the group grappled with whether Echevarria bore any share of the fault, with some members initially suggesting he could be partially responsible for turning into Collins’ path. In the end, however, the majority of jurors found insufficient evidence to assign negligence to Echevarria.
Discussions among jurors included the challenge of weighing evidence regarding both parties’ actions. A juror who initially believed Echevarria was partially at fault changed her stance, allowing the majority to conclude that Collins’ speeding was the primary factor in the accident. Police reports indicated that Collins was driving at 88 mph in a 35 mph zone shortly before the crash.
The issue of punitive damages also divided the jury, with some members advocating for them and others feeling Collins had already faced enough consequences. Jury members confirmed their verdict when polled, even in the absence of a unanimous requirement for civil cases.
Collins faced scrutiny regarding the presence of THC in his system at the time of the crash. Prosecutors noted he had 3.0 nanograms of THC per milliliter, above the legal limit, but questions remained about when he consumed the substance. Consequently, a grand jury declined to indict him for driving under the influence.
Although Collins initially claimed he had used marijuana days prior to the crash, further testimony suggested otherwise. Zinna asserted her client showed no significant signs of impairment apart from red eyes, pointing to the grand jury’s failure to bring DUI charges as evidence of his lack of impairment.
The jury was left with uncertainties surrounding Collins’ substance use, admitting they were confused by the dropped DUI charges yet acknowledged Collins did not appear impaired at the time of the accident. The law requires Collins’ father, Marvin Collins, to be held liable for damages stemming from his son’s negligence due to ownership of the vehicle involved.
Expressing sympathy for both families, Grant remarked on the complications of the law that held the elder Collins responsible for his son’s actions. “I don’t think there are any winners in this,” she concluded.
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