ST CHARLES, Mo. — A St. Charles County jury on Wednesday awarded the family of a man fatally struck by a driver fleeing from police $75 million.
Krystofer Batsell was driving a 2002 For Focus along Cedar Glen Drive between 4 and 5 p.m. on Nov. 17, 2018, when Aron Richardson slammed into him while driving a 1998 Dodge Durango more than 100 mph while fleeing from a St. Charles County police officer.
“As we approach the 5-year anniversary of Krystofer Batsell’s senseless death, we are happy that the voice of the people of St. Charles has finally been heard through this verdict,” according to a statement released by the family’s attorneys Grant Boyd and J.C. Pleban.
The jury deliberated for about an hour before delivering its verdict, which included $50 million in actual damages and $25 million in punitive damages.
Batsell was a promising musician when he was killed.
Originally, the family filed a lawsuit against St. Charles County, the officer involved in the pursuit and Richardson.
The family alleged the officer disobeyed at least two orders to call off the pursuit.
A judge determined the county and the officer should be excluded from the lawsuit because of laws that protect officers acting in their official capacities.
The family then sued Richardson independently.
Richardson is now serving a 15-year prison term after pleading guilty to second-degree murder, resisting arrest/detention, possession of a controlled substance and DWI.
Batsell, 21, was making a left-hand turn onto Highway 94 from Cedar Glen Drive, but Richardson ran the red light at Highway 94 and crashed into the driver's side of Batsell’s car.
“While driving on the date in question, defendant Richardson had consumed ‘a chunk’ of methamphetamines,” according to the lawsuit. “At the time he was also pulled over, Richardson was also in possession of a quarter shy of 3 ounces of methamphetamine.
“While he was driving at excessive speeds and under the influence of methamphetamines, defendant Richardson knew his ‘brakes were junk’ and ‘the power steering was going out.’”
Richardson told police he had been awake for “quite a few days,” which he estimated to be about 72 hours, according to the lawsuit.
Richardson was out on bond for a drug case in Ste. Genevieve County.
He has since pleaded guilty to those charges, too.