Lawsuit takes on FHP from when trooper’s car hit and killed woman: report

Orlando Sentinel (FL)

Jul. 29--A lawsuit is seeking damages stemming from an incident in 2017 when a woman was struck by a Florida Highway Patrol cruiser during a traffic stop near DeLand, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

On Saturday, July 15, 2017, two FHP officers gave pursuit to pull over Aaron Kuehn, then 46, of DeLand after clocking his Mustang at 1:10 a.m. on Kepler Road for going 71 mph in a 45 mph zone, according to the FHP. A passenger in the vehicle was Kuehn's 22-year-old daughter Amy Josephine Kuehn.

During the traffic stop on Lake Charles Road, Amy Kuehn fled from the vehicle, at which point the second FHP patrol car on scene, driven by then 26-year-old Joseph Cameron, also of DeLand, rounded the first FHP cruiser and the pulled-over Mustang to chase the fleeing Amy Kuehn. She had fallen down though while fleeing, and was struck by the FHP Dodge Charger, according to the FHP.

Kuehn was transported by medics to Halifax Medical Center, and later to Orlando Regional Medical Center. She died nine days later on July 24.

At the time, Aaron Kuehn was arrested and charged for speeding and DUI, and booked into the Volusia County Jail while his daughter was transported to the hospital, according to the FHP. Charges were later dropped, according to The News-Journal.

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The News-Journal said the two-year-old case is now part of a wrongful death lawsuit brought by Amy Kuehn's grandfather, Jack Kuehn of Fort Worth, Texas.

The News-Journal reported that FHP investigated the incident, but found no wrongdoing, and the two troopers, who have since left the agency.

The lawsuit, though, filed by Daytona Beach attorney Kelly Chanfrau, said Amy Kuehn ran because of mental disabilities including paranoia, and that the flashing emergency lights from the patrol car caused her to flee, according to The News-Journal. The lawsuit contends trooper Cameron violated the agency's own pursuit policy and used excessive force.