A jury in Las Vegas awarded $15 million on Tuesday to the family of a man killed in a 2020 car crash involving a former standout high school basketball player. The incident involved Zaon Collins, a former Bishop Gorman athlete who had committed to play basketball at UNLV and is currently a junior at Fresno State.
Collins collided with a vehicle driven by 52-year-old Eric Echevarria. Following the accident, Collins pleaded guilty to charges of reckless driving resulting in death and vehicular manslaughter. In March 2023, he received a sentence that included three months in jail and three years of probation, although he served only 56 days behind bars.
Echevarria’s family, represented by attorney Ramzy Ladah, filed a wrongful death and negligence lawsuit against Collins in 2021. In closing arguments, Ladah sought $35 million in damages, including punitive damages. However, the jury ultimately chose not to award punitive damages.
Collins’ defense attorney, Stephanie Zinna, contended that the true total damages should be approximately $2.9 million. She highlighted that both her client and Echevarria made mistakes during the incident; Collins was driving over the speed limit while Echevarria turned in front of him.
During the trial, prosecutors reported that Collins had a THC level of 3.0 nanograms per milliliter at the time of the crash, surpassing the legal limit of 2.0 nanograms per milliliter. Despite this, a forensic scientist from the Metropolitan Police Department testified that it remains unclear when Collins had consumed marijuana. As a result, a grand jury chose not to indict him for DUI.
This ongoing legal matter illustrates the complexities involved in cases of fatal traffic accidents, where multiple factors, including driver behavior and substance use, come into play.
The story continues to evolve as the implications of the jury’s decision may resonate beyond the courtroom, affecting Collins’ future in sports and prompting discussions on legal accountability in similar incidents.
This article was automatically written by Open AI. The people, facts, circumstances, and story may be inaccurate. Any article can be requested for removal, retraction, or correction by writing an email to contact@publiclawlibrary.org.