A tragic incident in San Diego has sparked a $50 million lawsuit after a homeless woman was left to die in the back of her van that was towed without anyone checking inside first. Monica Cameroni de Adams, a 65-year-old woman living in her Honda Odyssey, suffered severe injuries in a drunk driving accident on November 5, 2023. Despite being visible in the middle row seats of her van, no one noticed her before the vehicle was towed to an impound lot.
Cameroni de Adams’ remains were only discovered a month later, on December 6, 2023, when a yard worker reported a foul smell coming from the van. Her two adult children, who had filed a missing persons report, are now suing the city of San Diego for wrongful death. The lawsuit alleges negligence and “tortious interference with human remains” against the city, San Diego Police Department, Roadway Towing & Recovery, and others.
The lawsuit does not delve into the specifics of Cameroni de Adams’ living situation, but it is clear that her children made continuous efforts to locate her. They reported her missing when she did not respond to birthday messages on November 14, 2023. The family’s lawyer, John Carpenter, emphasized the importance of recognizing the humanity of homeless individuals, stating that they have loving families who care for them.
The drunk driver responsible for the accident, Jordan Lopez, initially faced a vehicular manslaughter charge but later pleaded down to DUI causing injury. He is set to be sentenced the following week and could face up to six years in prison. This tragic incident serves as a reminder that homeless individuals are not invisible and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
