Under a tentative settlement, the surviving family of 10-year-old Cole Berardi will receive $250,000 from the city of Dallas, dallasnews.com reports.
Nearly one year ago, Berardi was struck and killed by Sr. Cpl. Michael Vaughn as the officer responded to a call. Driving roughly 30 mph over the 40 mph speed limit, Vaughn was headed up a slight hill and around a curve on Belt Line Road when his cruiser clipped the back of Berardi's bicycle.
The collison was captured on the officer's dashboard camera. Vaughn, who was cleared by a grand jury of any wrongdoing, was not using his lights or siren while traveling at that high rate of speed -- a violation of department policy that earned him a one-day suspension.
The settlement proposed is the maximum allowed under state law and must be approved by the Dallas City Council. The council is expected to vote soon.
