ROCKFORD, IL — Winnebago County will pay $500,000 to settle the second of three lawsuits stemming from a double fatal crash that ended a September 2019 police chase.
The lawsuit was filed by Javen Dowthard who was a passenger in a black 2001 Chevrolet Suburban when the driver, Tareo Henry, fled from Winnebago County Sheriff’s Deputies. Henry’s vehicle crashed into an SUV, killing its driver, a 50-year-old husband and father of two.
Police said they were pursuing Henry when he refused to pull over for a traffic stop. Deputies said they had seen Henry speeding and driving recklessly near Central Avenue in Rockford.
Authorities say Henry ran a red light at the intersection of Auburn Street and Springfield Avenue and crashed the Suburban into an SUV driven by Todd Bamberger, 50, of Rockford, who was driving home after a day of trap shooting.
Both Henry and Bamberger were killed.
Dowthard suffered “severe and permanent injuries” in the crash, according to a complaint filed in a Winnebago County court laswsuit.
Winnebago County Board members recently agreed to settle Dowthard’s lawsuit that accused the Sheriff’s Department of disregarding his safety and that of others for an unreasonable pursuit.
The county did not admit any wrongdoing.
Winnebago County in April 2022 settled a lawsuit filed by Bamberger’s family for $2.3 million.
A third lawsuit filed by Henry’s family is on-going and scheduled for trial in May.
Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Winnebago County settles lawsuit over double fatal police chase
Reporting by Jeff Kolkey, Rockford Register Star / Rockford Register Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
