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Law Group, victim in Palm Springs holiday crash discuss potential case

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12 people were injured after a motorcycle police officer lost control and crashed into the crowd at the Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade.

The Formica Law Group is representing 12 clients, which includes a 4-year-old and a 12-year-old.

Check Out Our Coverage of the Palm Springs Parade Motorcycle Crash

News Channel 3's Garrett Hottle spoke with attorney Stefano Formica and one of his clients in this case, Jaime Rene Ruiz.

"My family is distraught over this. they're traumatized over this. There needs to be something fixed. There needs to be something taken care of," said Jamie Rene Ruiz, one of the victims being represented by the Formica Law Group.

Jaime Rene Ruiz (Left) Stefano Formica (Right)

Ruiz is related to five of those injured Saturday night, he is the uncle of one and the father of another.  He was not physically injured, but he was witness and has emotional injuries.

"Two are currently being evaluated for their injuries and one has some knocks to their that we need to know the extent of," Ruiz said. "Everyone else is sort of dealing with it emotionally right now."

Ruiz described the moment he says he saw the police motorcycle crash into the crowd at the Palm Springs Festival of Lights parade.

"It happened so fast," he said. "We were all there enjoying the evening and, um, all of a sudden you hear a noise that doesn't sound normal. Next thing you know, a motorcycle is wiping out the family. After that, it kind of went into a blur."

Ruiz continued, explaining how he reacted.

"First I went to get the baby that was, severely hurt, and to get him aid," Ruiz explained. "Then I heard my mom screaming, my niece screaming. It's just. It was chaos."

We asked Ruiz directly if he believes whether the city is responsible for what happened at the parade.

"Oh yes," he responded.

The Palm Springs Police Department has taken responsibility in News Channel 3s interviews with Chief of Police Andy Mills.

On Tuesday, Chief Mills stated the department had temporarily grounded the motorcycle fleet, and said no wheelies or pop-clutch demonstrations will ever happen again.

"He could of said that from the beginning," Stefano Formica said. "Instead it's been this was crowd control, this happened or it was engine failure."

Formica and Ruiz said they haven't filed litigation against the city, but are collecting facts in their investigation.

"Next we then file claims against the various agencies that may be responsible," Stefano Formica said.

We've reached out to the city of Palm Springs for comment but have not heard back as of Thursday afternoon.

Stick with News Channel 3 as we continue to follow this story on-air and online.

Article Topic Follows: News
holiday parade crash
palm springs festival of lights parade
palm springs motorcycle crash
parade motorcycle crash
police motorcycle crash

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Garrett Hottle

KESQ News Team

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