The City of Bakersfield has agreed a $22 million settlement to resolve a civil lawsuit over a 2023 police-involved crash that killed Mario Lares and left passenger Ana Hernandez with life-altering injuries.
The claim, filed in 2023, focussed on a collision at the rural junction of South Vineland Drive and Muller Road in poor visibility, and alleged failures in both driving conduct and compliance with emergency-response policy. It also followed criminal proceedings against the officer at the wheel, former Bakersfield Police Department officer Ricardo Robles.
With the parties deep into pre-trial hearings and jury selection, the city moved to settle rather than take the case to verdict…