An Oregon man who went lacking on his commute drove off a bridge due to defective snow-plowing, his household alleges in a lawsuit.
Antonio Amaro Lopez, 57, of Portland, was final heard from round 5 p.m. on Feb. 14, 2021, when he known as his spouse to say he was beginning dwelling from work. He by no means arrived.
After different drivers reported that they had seen an SUV plunging off a bridge over the Columbia River that night, the automobile was discovered by divers three days later — with Amaro Lopez’s physique inside.
The wrongful-death swimsuit filed Monday by his spouse and daughters cites a police report that mentioned the SUV hit a patch of ice on the Glenn Jackson Bridge and skidded towards the proper edge. There, hard-packed snow that a plow had pushed from the lane shaped an icy ramp that despatched the automobile over the sting and into the river 144 ft beneath.
The swimsuit contends Oregon’s Division of Transportation was negligent in not clearing the snow. It listed as a contributing issue the bridge’s low outer barrier — 32 inches, reasonably than the usual 39 to 43 inches.
The police investigation mentioned Amaro Lopez was touring on the 55-mph velocity restrict on the bridge, which carries Interstate 205 over the river.
The household’s swimsuit seeks $12 million from the company.
Amaro Lopez labored as a chef on the Amaro’s Desk eating places he had opened along with his brother in Vancouver and Hazel Dell, Washington.