St. Louis judge seals ex-police chief’s court settlement in crash that killed wife

Nov. 30--ST. LOUIS -- Former St. Louis Police Chief Joe Mokwa has reached a confidential settlement in a lawsuit stemming from a crash into a bridge barrier in July that sent a 1 1/2 -ton concrete chunk to the street below and killed Mokwa's wife.

Circuit Judge Mark Neill on Wednesday approved a request from Mokwa's lawyer to keep court documents related to Mokwa's settlement with his insurance company sealed.

"The court finds that given the nature of the plaintiff's employment and contact with individuals in the criminal justice system, merits and mandates that this information remain confidential and that the documents be sealed," according to an order signed by Neill.

The sealed settlement is with the Mokwas' insurance company, Cincinnati Insurance Co. Mokwa's claims against the driver, Damaya Angelou Love, are still pending. Court records also spell her name Demaya Love.

A representative of the insurance company declined to comment. Mokwa's lawyer and Love could not be reached Thursday.

Mokwa filed suit in October in St. Louis Circuit Court, alleging Love was negligent by driving without a license or auto insurance and by driving carelessly and imprudently.

Mokwa's wife, Janet Torrisi-Mokwa, 58, died instantly on July 23 when the concrete from Lindell Boulevard toppled onto her Tesla as she was driving west on Forest Park Parkway below. The suit said the concrete that fell on Torrisi-Mokwa weighed 2,900 pounds.

The suit sought damages of at least $50,000. It also identifies the Mokwas' insurance company to claim benefits from their underinsured motorist coverage.

Love has given interviews to St. Louis news organizations, including the Post-Dispatch, saying she wasn't speeding or distracted when she hit the barrier. She said she was driving with a learner's permit when she turned too sharply on the bridge, hopped a curb and crashed.

St. Louis police ticketed Love for being uninsured and unlicensed.

Police have said that the investigation is still open and whether speed or a distraction were part of the cause had not been determined.

Love told the Post-Dispatch she was on her way to work at Culver's on the day of the accident.

"To the family of the lady, I want to say that I'm really, truly sorry for your loss," she said.

Love criticized the city's maintenance of the bridge. Federal data show the bridge was rated in 2016 as deficient and eligible for replacement.

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