Video released of crash involving Chicago police vehicles that killed woman, 84; Family files lawsuit
CHICAGO (WLS) -- The family of a woman killed in a crash involving two Chicago police vehicles over Memorial Day weekend has filed a lawsuit against the Chicago Police Department.
Video shows a police van and police SUV violently collide on May 25. Both then slammed into sedan, with 84-year-old Verona Gunn inside.
Gunn was killed and three others were injured. Ten police officers were also injured.
Tuesday, her family said they never want to see this happen again to anyone and are suing the city to make sure policies are followed.
"It was absolutely 100 percent avoidable situation, this should not be our reality today. Our mother should be alive," said Dwight Gunn, the victim's son.
RELATED: Family: CPD vehicles caused West Side crash that killed Verona Gunn, 84
The family hired an attorney and hope the crash can lead to an open discussion with Mayor Lori Lightfoot about how officers should respond to emergencies.
"We want to work with Mayor Lightfoot and the Chicago Police Department... so this doesn't happen to another family," said attorney Andrew Stroh.
Gunn's family calls Verona their "matriarch." She was not only a mother to three adult children, but had nine grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and even had a great-great grandchild.
Her loss deeply affects her family every day.
"We are not anti-police," Dwight Gunn said. "We are pro-reform. We want to see changes come out of this. Our mother's life need to be a commodity. She is a value to us and to the community so we want to make sure everyone recognizes that there can be purpose from this very tragic situation."
The city and Chicago police offered their condolences to the Gunn family in the days after the crash. When the family met with police privately they said they were shown surveillance video of the collision.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
