Bridget Cast (Full Name: Bridget Nicole Cast) Died After Falling Out Of Patrol Vehicle In Madison County
MADISON COUNTY, TEXAS (November 2, 2023) - A woman identified as Bridget Cast has tragically died after falling out of a police car following her arrest in Madison County.
Madison County officials are saying that the accident took place on October, 14. Madison County police officers located Bridget Cast and placed her under arrest.
The events leading up to her arrest remain unknown at this time. Officers handcuffed her and placed her in the back of a patrol vehicle.
Officers said that the woman managed to get the handcuffs to the front of her body, unlatch her seat-belt and lower the window. It was after this that she fell out of the moving police vehicle on Farm Road west.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the accident in order to help the woman. Despite life-saving measures, Bridget Cast was pronounced dead at the scene.
A full investigation into the accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Madison County In-Custody Deaths
Deaths in police custody are unfortunately very common in the United States. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, “Federal law enforcement agencies reported 65 arrest-related deaths and 614 deaths in custody in fiscal year (FY) 2020. From FY 2016 to FY 2019, federal agencies reported an average of 53 arrest-related deaths and 449 deaths in custody each year. There were more deaths in custody in FY 2020 than in any year since FY 2016. The manner of these deaths included homicide, suicide, illness, accident, and other or unknown means.” There are many steps that police officers should take to keep suspects safe.
- Suspects should receive prompt medical care if needed. To that end, they may need to go to the hospital before being booked into jail.
- Officers should never place suspects in positions which could cause asphyxia.
- Officers should always use the least amount of force necessary when arresting a suspect.
When the state assumes control of a person’s autonomy, they have a legal obligation to keep that person safe. Pursuant to 42 U.S. Code § 1983, every person who, under the color of any statute, ordinance or law, causes a citizen of the United States to be deprived of any rights secured by the Constitution, shall be liable to the injured party in an action at law. Claims can also be made against a police department based on police department negligence.
Consider, for example, the tragic death of Brian Strothkamp Jr. He died after jumping out of a moving police vehicle following his arrest. It was determined he was able to move his handcuffs to the front of his body before lowering the police window and jumping out and later dying. His family filed a lawsuit against the county. Plaintiffs attorneys argued that arresting officers failed to follow safety protocols which contributed to Brian’s death.
- Arresting officers failed to secure Brian with a safety belt.
- Arresting officers failed to make sure childproof locks on the rear doors were engaged.
- Arresting officers failed to disengage the controls on the rear windows.
These failures made it possible for him to escape and ultimately resulted in his tragic death. The county eventually reached a settlement with his family. It is important for family members of people who died in custody to understand that they do have rights. The family of any person that died in custody may have legal recourse through a constitutional claim. A civil rights attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating Madison County In-Custody Deaths
We at Scott H. Palmer, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Bridget Cast. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to authorities. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong for the sake of the victim’s family. There are so many questions that still need to be answered. Did the arresting officers properly lock the rear doors? Were the rear windows disengaged? Had these safety measures been taken, this tragedy may have been averted.
Do you need more information about a Madison County in-custody death? Our team of civil rights attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that inmates are aware of their rights and that police departments across Texas are held accountable for their negligence. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 214-987-4100.