Former Chargers' intern struck by hit-and-run driver files claim against the city

Former San Diego Chargers public relations intern, J'Ron Erby who was struck while crossing a busy street in Pacific Beach by a hit-and-run driver has filed a claim against the City of San Diego, alleging unsafe street conditions.

Erby and his friends were crossing an intersection at Garnet Avenue and Bayard Street in Pacific Beach on August 5 after a night out on the town when a gray Hyundai Elantra slammed into him and his friends before speeding off.

Erby suffered a traumatic brain injury from the collision and spent the following 18 days in a coma.

City documents obtained by the Reader reveal Erby and his roommate, Kendrick Hester, also hit in the accident, have since filed claims against the city, a precursor to a lawsuit.

According to the claim Erby and Hester "allege defective street design leading to hit-and-run accident."

In September 2016, nearly two months after the hit-and-run collision, police arrested 24-year-old Omar Gutierrez, the driver of the car. Police charged Gutierrez with five counts of attempted murder as well as an offense for destroying evidence. A woman with Gutierrez, Jamillah Amirah Jones, is also facing a misdemeanor charge of aiding and abetting.

Gutierrez is scheduled to appear at a sentencing hearing on April 19, 2017.

According to several media reports Erby continues to recover from his injuries and has appeared at Chargers' games.