Cruz v. Briseno

Opinion

CHIN, J.

A sheriff’s deputy pursues a speeding motorist but fails to activate his car’s siren or lights. The motorist runs a red light at high speed, colliding with another car and killing or injuring its passengers. Is the deputy personally liable to the car’s passengers for asserted negligence in failing to activate his siren or lights? As will appear, we conclude that the deputy is statutorily immune from suit under Vehicle Code section 17004, 1 which immunizes public employees from civil damages resulting from their operation of emergency vehicles in immediate pursuit of an actual…