San Diego officials are facing a $50 million lawsuit after the shocking discovery of a homeless woman’s body inside her towed van… more than a month after a devastating crash involving a drunk driver.
Monica Cameroni De Adams, 65, was asleep in her parked van on November 5, 2023, when 25-year-old Jordan Lopez crashed into it while allegedly driving under the influence. Emergency crews arrived at the scene, but the wrecked van… still carrying De Adams… was simply towed away, unnoticed by authorities.
Her family believes she survived the initial impact and could have been saved if paramedics had found her. Instead, she was left trapped in the impounded vehicle, where she succumbed to her injuries.
Weeks later, employees at the impound lot noticed a disturbing odor coming from the van. When they opened it, they found De Adams’ decomposed body, revealing a horrifying case of neglect.
“The last place you’d expect to find a missing person is inside an impounded vehicle,” said John Carpenter, the family’s attorney, in a statement to KMFB.
According to an autopsy report, De Adams died from blunt force trauma caused by the crash. However, her family argues that her injuries were “severe but survivable” and that her death was the result of negligence.
De Adams’ disappearance raised concerns when she failed to respond to birthday messages on November 13, prompting her daughter to file a missing persons report. Now, her loved ones are demanding justice, accusing the city of failing to check the van before it was towed.
“This wasn’t just an accident… it was a failure of the system,” Carpenter stated. “She was left alone, suffering, and ultimately entombed in her own vehicle.”
The lawsuit against the city of San Diego seeks $50 million in damages, highlighting the dire consequences of what the family calls a preventable tragedy.
As the case gains national attention, many are questioning how such a devastating oversight could happen… and whether changes will be made to prevent it from happening again.
