BPD officer ran red light, caused injury crash: claim

Jason Kotowski
·2 min read
7

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A Bakersfield police officer ran a red light in January while responding to an emergency call, according to a claim filed against the city, causing a four-vehicle crash resulting in injuries.

The claim, a precursor to a lawsuit, says Officer Joseph Dillon Maranto failed to activate his vehicle’s siren and clear each lane before entering the intersection, violating Bakersfield Police Department policy.

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Filed last month by attorneys at Chain Cohn Clark on behalf of an injured driver, the claim alleges negligent hiring and training on the part of BPD and seeks damages in an amount greater than $35,000.

Last year, a man was killed and a woman seriously injured in another crash involving a Bakersfield police officer responding to an emergency call.

In that case, Officer Ricardo Robles ran a stop sign at high speed early Jan. 19, 2023, California Highway Patrol investigators say. His car collided with another vehicle at the intersection of South Vineland and Muller roads.

Robles had been trying to catch up to a stolen vehicle pursuit, reports say. The chase had been called off by the time of the crash.

Robles has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and assault charges.

The nature of the emergency Maranto was responding to the morning of Jan. 31 is not specified in the claim.

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It says Benjamin Quinton — represented by Chain Cohn Clark — was stopped at a red light facing north on South Chester Avenue at Loustalot Lane.

Maranto was driving a marked police car south on Chester Avenue when he entered the intersection on a red light, according to the claim. The police car collided with a Mini Cooper heading east on Loustalot, the claim says, then hit Quinton’s Toyota 4Runner and another vehicle.

Quinton suffered injuries to his neck, head and back, according to the claim.

“The speed at which Officer Maranto improperly entered the intersection caused a four-vehicle collision,” the claim says.

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