Kyle Athay suffered a spinal cord injury back on June 10, 1999 which caused him to be paralyzed from the waist down. According to KSL News, the injury was a result of a police chase by Rich County Sheriff Dale Stacey who had at the time pursued a suspect at high speeds through at least three states. The chase, which had been going on for at least 63 miles ended when the suspect rear-ended Athay’s car in southeast Idaho. The force of the crash led to a spinal cord injury which caused him to be paralyzed from the waist down.
The case had quite a history and had been twice dismissed, but then brought back to life by Athay’s attorney, Craig Jorgensen of Pocatello, Idaho, who later got the case in front of a jury, who apportioned 70 percent of the fault on the fleeing suspect and 30 percent on Rich County Sheriff Dale Stacey. Since the suspect is essentially “judgment proof,” Athay’s attorney will see 30 percent of the $3.7 million verdict from Rich County.