Following the death of her son, a Tampa mother is suing an apartment complex for failing to provide safe accommodations for pedestrians.
The morning of Jan. 28, 2016, 12-year-old Leonard Pineda was hit by a car while trying to catch a school bus. He was running through the parking lot of the Preserve at Mobbly Bay, an apartment complex at 8210 Solano Bay Loop off West Hillsborough Boulevard in Northwest Tampa. Pineda was struck by a Ford Expedition driven by Dynisha Namauleg.
After being transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital, Pineda died from his injuries, according to a news release from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Pineda’s mother is the designated representative of his estate. In the suit, she is requesting compensation for damages that include funeral costs and pain and suffering arising from the loss of a family member.
Management received past complaints regarding pedestrian safety in the complex, the suit says. There was a lack of speed signs, traffic control devices, notices, and warnings on the property. The complaints were filed, but nothing was ever done to address the hazard.
Shortly after the accident, Namauleg was arrested for domestic violence and evicted from her apartment. Namauleg has had previous traffic citations for failing to stop at red lights and lying to police after an auto accident where she was driving on a suspended license.
Pineda left behind his mother, father and two siblings.
