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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis receives $7.5M ‘claim’ bill tied to 2014 traffic crash

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday received 18 bills from the Legislature, including a measure that would lead to the state paying $7.5 million because of a traffic crash that severely injured three children.

The measure was one of five “claim” bills that went to DeSantis after passing during the legislative session that ended in March.

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Such bills are designed to compensate people above limits in sovereign-immunity laws. The proposed $7.5 million payment stems from a May 2014 crash on Interstate 75 south of Ocala.

The bill said Florida Highway Patrol trooper Raul Umana struck a car driven by Christeia Jones while trying to cross a gap in the median onto the southbound lanes of the interstate.

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Jones’ car was then hit from behind by a tractor-trailer rig, went off the road, struck a tree and caught fire, the bill said. Jones’ three boys, ages 2, 5 and 7 at the time, suffered extensive injuries, including head injuries.

Jones filed a lawsuit that led to a settlement of $7.785 million. The state paid $285,000 under the sovereign-immunity limits, and Jones then sought passage of a claim bill for the remaining amount.

The House and Senate voted almost unanimously to pass the measure (SB 80) in March.

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