Woman hit by fire truck files claim against city

Elise Gee

COSTA MESA -- A woman who was hit by a Costa Mesa fire truck while

riding her bicycle in July has filed a $250,000 claim against the city

for medical bills and other damages.

Ceydia Lemus, 21, was riding her bicycle east on Wilson Street July 18

when a Costa Mesa fire truck traveling north on Placentia hit her and

threw her about 20 feet, according to police reports.

Ronald V. Cloe, the firefighter driving the truck, was not cited

although the police report said he was at fault for failing to yield.

Cloe, who said he estimated he was going 30 to 35 miles per hour, had a

green light but Lemus was not able to make it across the intersection

before the light changed, according to police reports.

Lemus was hit by the truck after she swerved to avoid a bus, the

report also said.

Lemus, who was not wearing a helmet, suffered trauma to the head, cuts

to her face, and pain in her neck, shoulders, back, legs and arms,

according to her claim.

The Fire Department initially requested and was granted authority to

handle noninvestigative aspects of the incident, but Costa Mesa police

later took over that role after California Highway Patrol and Huntington

Beach police officers were not available to investigate. The driver’s

name was also withheld for a period of time to protect his privacy.

Cloe has a clean driving record with the fire department, officials

have said.

The city is still conducting an investigation into the claim including

interviewing witnesses, said Risk Manager Karen Adams.

“The city has not taken any action whatsoever on the claim at this

time in terms of rejection or anything else,” she said.