Caltrans settles lawsuit over death at Fresno construction site

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — The California Department of Transportation has settled a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the parents of a 24-year-old woman who was killed by a drunk driver while working on a nighttime paving project.

Attorneys for both sides said that Caltrans did not admit liability as part of the settlement. The agency did pay the parents of Regan Johnson $850,000 for her July 2012 death while working on Highway 99 in Fresno.

Bill and Malan Johnson sued Caltrans for negligence and failure to provide a safe work area for their daughter. Caltrans attorney Steven McQuillan says the agency argues that driver Alyssa Villanueva was solely responsible for Regan Johnson's death.

Villanueva, now 30, pleaded guilty in 2014 and was sentenced to more than 17 years in prison.