The family of a man who was struck and killed by a van while riding his bike in East Haven in 2012 has been awarded $6.4 million in a wrongful death case.
Police said 51-year-old Jeffrey Harrison was riding his bike on Coe Avenue in East Haven in July 2012 when he was hit by a minivan driven by Cheryle Tyson, 52, of Milford. Harrison was revived at the scene, but suffered critical injuries and was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he died, according to officials. He left behind a wife and a 13-year-old daughter.
The van was from Sarah Inc., a Guilford-based organization for children and adults with disabilities. It was carrying two people in addition to Tyson when it stuck the bicyclist, flipped over and hit a utility pole.
Tyson and the passengers were taken to Yale-New Haven and St. Raphael's hospitals with serious but not life-threatening injuries, according to police.
Tyson was ultimately charged with negligent homicide, but pled guilty to reduced charges.
In 2014 Harrison's wife Marion filed a wrongful death lawsuit in New Haven Superior Court.
According to a press release from the family’s attorney at Faxon Law Group, a jury ruled in favor of the family, awarding the family $6.4 million in damages.
