City OKs $2-Million Settlement in Fatal Freeway Accident

LOS ANGELES — The City Council on Wednesday approved a $2.1-million settlement with the family of Roger Randall, who died after a freak pileup last year involving a city truck on the Hollywood Freeway.

It was the fourth--and by far the largest--settlement of a series of lawsuits filed by victims and their families over the tragic March 1998 traffic accident, which was allegedly caused when the driver of a southbound city-owned truck fell asleep at the wheel and lost control when he neared Universal Center Drive.

The four-ton truck careened across several lanes, plowed through the center divider, became airborne and passed over a car before landing on its side and slamming into a van, finally coming to rest on top of a sedan. The wreckage from the crash closed the freeway for nearly 12 hours.

The driver of the city truck, Louis C. Gysin, said he had not fallen asleep at the wheel. But post-crash investigations showed no mechanical problems that might have caused the crash. Gysin was charged with vehicular manslaughter and his prosecution is underway, officials said.

The three previous settlements stemming from the crash totaled less than $100,000, said Senior Assistant City Atty. Dan Woodard. In addition to property damage, drivers suffered injuries ranging from superficial cuts to severe internal damage.

Randall, a 50-year-old county communications repairman whose van was struck, was the only person killed in the accident. Seven others were injured, including Carol Adkins, whose rented sedan was crushed by the city truck. Adkins, who had been visiting Los Angeles at the time, still lies in a coma in Florida, Woodard said.

The city faces seven more lawsuits over the accident, including one by the family of Adkins, Woodard said.