Murrays Drop Lawsuit Against City

Jeff and Ling Murray charged that the city was at least partly at fault for the tragic death of their 2-year-old daughter — Calli Ann Murray — but the Press Democrat is reporting today that the Rohnert Park couple has dropped the lawsuit. Read that full story here.

The Murray's lives were thrust into the public spotlight following their daughter's death in the crosswalk near Sunrise Park. Ling, 42, who is Calli's mom, continues to undergo painful surgeries and physical therapy, while Jeff, the father, has lost months of work. The two have grieved publicly, and become .

But while a Sonoma County Court found Kaitlyn Dunaway, who was texting while driving when she ran over Calli, guilty of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter in November — the Murrays also said the city was at least partly at fault.

Following a commissioned by City Manager Gabe Gonzalez, where traffic engineers studied dangerous vehicle and pedestrian crossings in Rohnert Park, the Murrays filed a civic suit against the city. The study found 75 intersections were unsafe, including the crosswalk where Ling and Calli were struck.

Although the report said the Snyder Lane crosswalk was generally safe, engineers called for more lighting, signage alerting drivers before the crosswalk and a brighter crosswalk. Over the last 10 years, the report found, there have been 157 total collisions, most of them car accidents resulting from unsafe speeds. Four accidents involved a pedestrian and 11 involved bicyclists. Calli Murray's death was the only fatal collision, the report stated.

Also recommended at the scene of the fatal accident was a crossing guard at the intersection during the school year and installation of a streetlight — but the latter amendment was postponed until Snyder Lane is widened — a project called for in the city's General Plan.

The widening is expected to begin in the next two to three years, according to the report, but is subject to "economic factors." The city has since to unsafe crossings, including .

The Murrays filed for wrongful death of their daughter, Calli Murray, 2, and an additional claim by Ling for "severe personal injuries to myself, including fractures and internal injuries and prolonged hospitalization."

"I have injuries that will permanently limit my functional ability," Ling wrote. "I am currently undergoing rehabilitation."

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According to the Press Democrat, however, the Murrays couldn't find a lawyer in time to continue with the case. The article stated that:

"The Murrays were to notify the court who would represent them within 30 days of a Dec. 7 letter from the court clerk. However, that date passed and Murray said they couldn't find an attorney to take the case and decided they couldn't afford the legal costs."

Dunaway served a few days in jail, and has been ordered to do community service speaking about the accident. Stay tuned to Rohnert Park Patch, we're following that story closely.