SACRAMENTO, CA, April 28, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ — A Sacramento County jury has awarded $32.16 million to the two children of Juan Carlos Rodriguez, a devoted father killed on Interstate 5 in December 2022 by Sacramento Police Detective Jonathan Nangle. Driving an unmarked City police vehicle on his way to work, Nangle left his travel lane, crossed over the fog line, and killed Mr. Rodriguez and his brother, who had called Mr. Rodriguez for assistance after running out of gas.
Carlos Rodriguez was a 33-year-old journeyman plumber, a son, a brother, and — above all — a loving, hands-on father. The children, who were just six and ten years old at the time of their father’s death, brought a wrongful death lawsuit through their mother, represented by John Demas and Tim Spangler of Demas Law Group, based in Sacramento.
The City and the detective admitted responsibility for causing Carlos Rodriguez’s death. Nangle was found guilty of two counts of vehicular manslaughter and sentenced to 120 days in jail. After completing community service, Nangle did not serve time in jail or face probation.
In civil court, after a brief trial, the jury deliberated for just over an hour before returning a unanimous verdict recognizing the extraordinary scope of the children’s loss.
“This verdict reflects something very simple but very powerful,” said John Demas, attorney for the family. “The jury saw Carlos Rodriguez as a real human being — a father whose life revolved around his kids. They understood that accountability isn’t just about admitting fault; it’s about acknowledging the lifelong impact when a parent is taken from their children.”
Demas added, “The size of this verdict reflects the magnitude of the loss and shows the value our community places on a human life. Carlos was a remarkable dad whose death was avoidable and preventable.”
The jury’s award reflects the loss of Carlos Rodriguez’s love, companionship, care, protection, guidance, and everyday presence — not just for the years already missed, but for the many decades ahead.
In a statement, the children’s mother, Jessica Romero, expressed gratitude for the jury’s decision.
“No verdict can ever bring Carlos back or replace what my children lost,” Romero said. “But this decision acknowledges the depth of that loss. Carlos was an incredible father, and our children deserved to have their dad grow old with them. I am grateful that the jury truly saw him and honored what he meant to our family.”
The verdict is believed to be one of the largest wrongful death awards in Northern California in a case without punitive damages.
In 2017, the City of Sacramento paid $9.75 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit following a collision where a police officer rear-ended a vehicle and killed a 9-month-old baby, Raiden. Demas Law Group represented the parents of Raiden, and that case was previously the largest wrongful death settlement to be paid by the City.
ABOUT DEMAS LAW GROUP
Demas Law Group, P.C. is a Sacramento personal injury law firm focused exclusively on representing people injured in accidents, including car accidents, motorcycle crashes, truck accidents, and wrongful death cases. The firm has served clients throughout Sacramento and Northern California for nearly three decades and is known for its commitment to client advocacy, strong trial preparation, and exceptional results.
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