The family of the man killed nearly a year ago in a crash with a Sheriff’s deputy in Twentynine Palms has filed a lawsuit against the deputy involved in the crash, as well as the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department , the County, and the City. Z107.7 News has learned that the wife and children of Luc Van Bui filed a wrongful death lawsuit February 24. The plaintiffs allege that Deputy Erdem Gorgolu—who was driving eastbound on Highway 62 about 7:30 p.m. on April 30—was driving his marked patrol car “at speeds far in excess of the lawful speed limit … with no head lights, no running lights, no emergency lights, no signals nor any other lights of the vehicle being turned on, all in hours of total darkness.” The lawsuit also alleges that the deputy did not have the siren or any other audible warning signal turned on, adding that Bui “did not know Erdem Gorgolu and the vehicle he was operating was even approaching, let alone the speed at which he was coming.” Deputy Gorgolu’s patrol car crashed into the Toyota Camry driven by Bui as he was pulling out of the Burger King onto Highway 62, killing him. Bui’s family allege in the lawsuit that due to Luc Van Bui’s death, they have suffered economic losses, as well as medical, hospital, and funeral expenses, and the loss of love and companionship, among others. They also contend that in addition to the economic and non-economic damages they have suffered, they are entitled to recover punitive damages.
