Woman files claim against city

A Huntington Beach woman filed a claim with the city March 3 after a parking gate arm allegedly fell on her, knocking her off her bike and causing her head trauma and loss of her sense of smell.

Anita Newman, 61, is citing negligence on the part of the city for her accident and asking for an unknown amount of more than $10,000 in damages. A claim is the precursor to a lawsuit.

Newman was in the First Street parking lot just before 3 p.m. in September when a parking arm gate struck her, according to the claim. The resident fell off her bike and hit her head on the pavement.

She suffered head trauma, hematoma, loss of smell and depression from the accident, according to the claim.

— Britney Barnes