A Keizer man is suing the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and a deputy for $450,000, alleging the deputy made a reckless U-turn that resulted in a collision and injured him two years ago.
In a four-page complaint filed Friday in Lincoln County Circuit Court, Lonny Ramos of Keizer claims the sheriff’s office and a deputy negligently caused injuries to his head, neck and back, including “a severe injury to the back that is permanent in nature” by causing a crash Feb. 5, 2021.
According to the Oregon State Police call log, the wreck involving Ramos’ SUV and the patrol SUV driven by Deputy Garrett Brawdy occurred at about 7:30 p.m. on U.S. Highway 101 between Boiler Bay and Fogarty Creek, just north of Depoe Bay. The log classified the crash as non-injury and notes that another adult and four children were in Ramos’ vehicle, and Brady had a deputy in the passenger seat of his.
Ramos’ lawsuit says he was driving southbound, while Brawdy was driving on or near the highway shoulder.
“In an attempt to execute a U-turn maneuver as part of his training protocol, (Brawdy) pulled into the direct path of plaintiff’s vehicle, causing a collision between the two vehicles,” injuring Ramos, the lawsuit reads. It says the deputy was negligent in his failure to maintain a reasonable and prudent speed, failure to keep a proper lookout or maintain control of the vehicle, and for “executing an extremely dangerous maneuver without due regard for other motorists.”
The state police log reads: “A crash occurred as the Ford Explorer was driving northbound and had performed a U-turn causing the Chevrolet Tahoe to … hit the left rear of the Ford. The Ford was towed by Car Care Towing. The Chevrolet was drivable. No injuries occurred.”
But Ramos says his injuries resulted in $50,000 in medical damages and warranted $400,000 for pain, suffering, and impairment of everyday life.
No hearings have been scheduled in the suit nor judge assigned. Court records indicate defendants had not been served with the complaint as of Tuesday.
