Civil suit filed against Santa Paula grocer in bicyclist’s death
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Published: January 11, 2012
A civil suit has been filed against Satnam Singh, the Santa Paula grocery owner awaiting trial for second-degree murder by the family of a 20-year-old Ventura College student run down May 11.
Singh, a resident of Ventura, has been charged with second-degree murder, drunk driving and hit and run in the death of Nick Haverland who was riding his bicycle with a companion at about 7 p.m. when Singh’s Hummer struck him as Haverland rode along Telegraph Road.
Singh, who owns a West Harvard Boulevard neighborhood market but had sold his interest in another local store, registered a blood alcohol level of 0.39 percent following the incident, nearly five times the legal limit of 0.08.
Before he ran down Haverland, Singh also was involved in two other hit and runs one at a stop sign where he hit another vehicle and the second striking mother and daughter bicyclists. None of the other victims suffered serious injury.
Singh, 49, has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is free on $500,000 bail.
In the lawsuit the family of Nick Haverland reportedly is not seeking punitive damages.
At a recent hearing in criminal court Singh’s attorney said his client was too intoxicated to have known his actions - driving the Hummer - would result in death.
And, Attorney Marc Biederman told Judge Charles Campbell at a preliminary hearing that Singh’s level of intoxication rendered him incapable of recognizing his actions demonstrated disregard for human life.
Campbell said by the time Singh struck Haverland he had already hit two other bicyclists and rear-ended a car; because Singh’s attempts to flee demonstrated he knew wrongdoing was involved Campbell said he would allow the second-degree murder charge to stand.
Singh’s will return to criminal court on January 18 for his arraignment.
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