SF to pay $15M to family of woman run over in park by city worker

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Thursday, October 2, 2014
Thomas Burnoski and Christine Svanemyr.
Thomas Burnoski and Christine Svanemyr.
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SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- San Francisco supervisors have agreed to pay $15 million to the family of a woman who was killed in a city park last year.

Christine Svanemyr, 35, was sunbathing when she was struck by a City Rec and Parks vehicle.

The driver, gardener Thomas Burnoski, claims he veered onto the lawn to avoid hitting a dog, and didn't realize he had run over anyone.

He's since been charged with manslaughter and felony hit-and-run.

Officials wanted to avoid putting the family through a trial, and reached a settlement with Svanemyr's husband and their 2-year-old child.