Board rejects Oates claim

The Huntington Beach City School District board of trustees has rejected a claim by the family of slain student Danny Oates. The claim, a precursor to a lawsuit, sought wrongful death damages for Oates, killed in an August crash while riding his bicycle to Sowers Middle School.

Oates’ parents, Paul and Kristi Oates, filed two claims against the city and school district in recent weeks, claiming that a lack of safety features, such as crossing guards, stop signs, lighted crosswalks and other ways to slow traffic, contributed to the death of their son. The claim against the city is still under review, officials said. The school board unanimously rejected the claim at Tuesday’s meeting.

The Oates family was not present at the vote. But Paul Oates said in an interview that he doesn’t want any money for himself or his family; the goal is to press for extra safety features in the neighborhood so kids are out of harm’s way on their routes to school.

“I’m just trying to help these other kids get to school,” Oates said. “I want to help them get some stop signs and crossing guards. We absolutely do not want a penny from them.”

Before the vote, Asst. Supt. Michael Curran told trustees that denying the claim was the normal thing to do, whatever the merits might turn out to be.

“It’s going to have to play out the way it plays out,” he said. “For now the normal course of action on anything like this is we reject the claim.”

Danny Oates, who was 14, was struck by a pickup truck that swerved across the road in August as he rode his bike down Indianapolis Avenue to pick up his class schedule. His death spurred mourning throughout the neighborhood, as well as calls for better control of traffic in the area.

The accident, including the truck’s driver, Jeffrey F. Woods, 20, Huntington Beach, is still under investigation, according to police. But an affidavit by Huntington Beach police detectives filed Feb. 13 stated he may have been texting about a drug deal around the time of the crash and possibly under the influence of an opiate. Woods has not been charged with any crime at this time. Efforts to reach him were unsuccessful.

Paul Oates said he doesn’t personally blame the school district or the city, nor did he say any one change would have saved his son. Rather, he said his family’s tragedy provided an opportunity to press for the traffic improvements.

“I’ve got nothing against those guys,” Oates said. “They’ve been wonderful, especially the police department. It’s not anything personal. But I believe there’s a platform now that’s established because of that loss, and I’m trying to get something to happen.”