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City Council OKs $185,000 Settlement In Huizar Crash

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A private investigator whose car was rear-ended by a vehicle driven by Councilman Jose Huizar will receive a six-figure settlement after a unanimous vote Wednesday by members of the Los Angeles City Council.

David Ceja, a former Huntington Park police officer, will receive a $185,000 settlement after a city-owned 2008 Toyota Highlander driven by Huizar struck his 2002 Saturn L200 at First Street and Boyle Avenue in Boyle Heights on Oct. 25, 2012, according to his attorney.

Huizar was detained for a possible DUI following the accident and given a breathalyzer test, which he passed, according to police. No charges were filed.

Ceja's car "was hit very hard" and was "declared a total loss," attorney Humberto Guizar said.

The then-48-year-old was working as a private investigator for the city of Los Angeles and was looking into claims of worker compensation fraud when the crash occurred, according to Guizar.

Huizar released a statement Wednesday accepting "full responsibility for my part in this matter."

"While this was the type of unfortunate accident that could have happened to anybody, I take full responsibility for my part in this matter. I wasn't personally involved in the final settlement agreement which was mutually agreed upon by the City Attorney's Office and the plaintiff's attorney," the statement read.

(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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