Ogden police are sued over death in '05 chase

OGDEN (AP) — The family of a woman killed by a driver involved in a chase has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Ogden police.

Relatives of Jessica Nelson, 21, filed the lawsuit in 2nd District Court last week.

Ogden city police and officers Troy Burnett and Matt Jones are named in the lawsuit, which asks for a jury trial.

The case has been assigned to a judge, but no hearing has been set.

Nelson and Philemon Ellis, 62, were killed Dec. 13, 2005, when they were broadsided by a car driven by Eddie Raymond Bustos at the intersection of 24th Street and Grant Ave.

Bustos, 49, is in jail awaiting a Dec. 11 trial. He's charged with automobile homicide, evading and possession of methamphetamine, all second-degree felonies, which carry a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.

Prior to the crash, Ogden police had chased Bustos through the city, calling off their pursuit three blocks before Bustos' vehicle collided with Ellis's car.

In testimony given during a Feb. 28 preliminary hearing, police said Bustos, who allegedly ran several red lights and stoplights to avoid capture, may have been traveling at speeds up to 70 mph.