Expo New Mexico has agreed to pay $750,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of Penelope Pizzaro, the 10-year-old Albuquerque girl killed when a stolen state-owned SUV slammed into her family's car in March 2023. Penelope's father, David Pizzaro, was driving her to school at the time of the crash, and he suffered a brain bleed and brain injury that day while his daughter was left with injuries so severe she died days later.
According to KRQE, the crash happened near Zuni Road and San Pedro Drive, though a separate KRQE report on Penelope's death placed the collision near Bell Avenue and San Pedro Drive in southeast Albuquerque. Penelope suffered severe brain injuries, a fractured femur and pelvis, and liver and chest damage, injuries that proved fatal within days of the crash.
Lawsuit Says Keys Were Left in an Unattended State Vehicle
The lawsuit alleges that an Expo New Mexico employee left the SUV unattended at the fairgrounds with its keys still inside, creating the opportunity for the vehicle to be stolen. It also claims Expo New Mexico failed to properly train the employee and its security company to prevent that kind of lapse from happening, according to the station's report.
John Bearden Jr. stole the state SUV from the fairgrounds shortly before the crash and admitted he had used meth that day, per the same account. He was later sentenced to 22 years in prison for auto theft, leaving the scene of an accident and vehicular homicide.
Expo New Mexico Responds to the Settlement
Expo New Mexico spokesperson Erin Thompson said the organization was grateful the person responsible was held accountable and hoped the settlement would bring the family some peace. “With regard to the settlement, we hope the resolution of this matter brings them some measure of peace,” Thompson said.
The Pizzaro settlement follows a separate case involving a New Mexico state agency and a fatal crash. The state Department of Public Safety agreed in February to pay $850,000 to settle a lawsuit over the death of Bernice Duque, according to the Albuquerque Journal. That lawsuit alleged law enforcement was liable for Duque's death because the police pursuit preceding her crash was unnecessary, and the Journal reported that DPS said the settlement resolved those claims without an admission of liability. The law-enforcement portion of that case was settled even as separate medical-malpractice litigation remained pending, the newspaper noted.
