KCRA reported on September 28, 2026, that Patrick Seamus Mulderrig, a 59-year-old retired California Highway Patrol officer, died after the May 2024 crash in Granite Bay. KCRA attributed the collision details to a police report Flores obtained through her attorney and said Mulderrig had been driving on Douglas Boulevard when a Cadillac driven by Oates turned left.
CBS Sacramento reported that Mulderrig was riding west on Douglas Boulevard on May 14, 2024, when Oates turned left across his path near Kingsgate Drive. CBS said the trial centered on damages for Flores, that Oates had accepted responsibility for the crash, and that Flores did not seek punitive damages.
What the sources reported
| Source | What it reported | Date |
|---|---|---|
| KCRA | Placer County jurors awarded Flores $15.8 million in the wrongful death case, and KCRA reported details from the police report. | Sept. 28, 2026 |
| CBS Sacramento | CBS reported the unanimous 12-person verdict, the damages positions from each side, and the District Attorney's prior charging decision. | Sept. 28, 2026 |
KCRA reported that Oates was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol according to the police report, that the investigating officer referred the matter for possible citation and manslaughter charges, and that the district attorney did not file a case or cite Oates. KCRA also reported it reached out to Oates and Oates' attorney for comment.
Civil verdict details
CBS Sacramento reported that Flores' attorneys asked jurors for about $45 million, while Oates' attorney argued for an award closer to $4 million. CBS reported that the Placer County District Attorney's Office had declined to file a vehicular manslaughter case because it said there was not enough evidence to prove a criminal act beyond a reasonable doubt.
For readers following how a civil crash case can continue after prosecutors decline charges, Lederer & Nojima maintains a related resource on California car accident claims. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.