January 30, 2022 | www.santansun.com
Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
Family seeks $19M from city over police chase crash
BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer
Four members of a local television news reporter’s family last July were on their way to get some ice cream when a man in an RV fleeing police ran a red light and crashed into one of their cars. That family has now filed a claim for $19 million against the City of Chandler, claiming gross negligence by police officers. The claim alleges that Andy Ramirez Jr. and his wife Norma Ramirez suffered major injuries to multiple parts of his body, including muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones and spinal joints. Andy Ramirez, an Emmy Award-winning journalist with ABC15, was re-
The fleeing RV collided with six vehicles after running a second of two signals on July 24, injuring six people. (Courtesy of ABC15)
ported to have spent two weeks in a medically-induced coma as he fought for his life. A claim is a precursor to a lawsuit and often leads to one if the defendant does not settle. The City of Chandler has a policy of not talking about current litigation. The claim also contends that Ramirezes’ two daughters, Liana and Mia, witnessed the accident as they were driving behind their parents and that they are receiving ongoing medical care and treatment for the emotional injuries they sustained watching the RV t-bone their parents’ car. The Ramirez family says it will agree See
WRECK on page 6
Laptops start going to grateful Chandler High students BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer
Chandler High School students were excited to be handed a new laptop computer last Wednesday as the school district was joined by Intel Corp. and Dell in beginning another step toward bridging its digital divide. “We finally get better access to the
Internet because the other computers are slow,” said sophomore Ryland Douglas. All Chandler High students are getting a laptop courtesy of a pilot program by Chandler Unified School District, Intel and Dell. The school district bought the laptops while the tech giants are contributing $1.6 million in See
LAPTOP on page 5
Cancer survivor Julia Mitchell was surprised with a new Volkswagen Beetle for her 16th birthday during a birthday parade in her honor in front of her Chandler home Jan. 20. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)
Chandler cancer victim, 16, gets a big surprise BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer
Julia Mitchell, a then 15-year-old south Chandler resident, looks into the camera without and hair on her head. She seems fearless, looking into the camera. However, right before her big announcement her eyes look away. “I have a bone cancer, which is called
Ewing sarcoma,” she says in her first YouTube video documenting her journey in fighting cancer. “I have a tumor, a 6-inch tumor, in my right hip.” Her first video has been watched more than 20,000 times. And some of those viewers were likely among those who came out on See
CANCER on page 5
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Chandler Unified School District education technology coach Sophany Tibke hands Chandler High sophomore Abigail Hernandez her laptop while Ryland Douglas. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)
F E AT U R E D STO R I E S Multicultural Festival in photos. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NEWS . . . . . . . . . Page 22 Housing scene getting more desperate . . . . . . . . . .REAL ESTATE . . . . . .Page 27
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Chandler movie house gets creative . . . . . . . . . . . . .BUSINESS . . . . . . . Page 28
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New Chandler child therapy center. . . . . . . . . . . . . .NEIGHBORS . . . . . Page 33
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