Jury Awards $80M in Wrongful Death Case Involving Unlicensed Driver

A Texas jury awarded $80 million to the family of 8-year-old Caleb Ramirez in a wrongful death case involving Alex Castillo, the driver responsible for the crash that killed Caleb in April 2024.

The court found Castillo and his family negligent in the incident, which occurred when Caleb was struck by a truck while riding his bike near his home in Pharr. Castillo, then 17 years old, was cited for driving without a license but was not criminally charged.

The Pharr Police Department, initially named in the lawsuit to provide evidence, was subsequently removed from the case before trial. The lawsuit originally sought $1 million, the minimum amount to file such a claim, but the jury's decision significantly exceeded this figure, reflecting the severity of the negligence found.

The trial included evidence showing Castillo accelerated upon impact and did not attempt to stop the vehicle after hitting Caleb, with crash reconstruction confirming the speed and actions preceding the accident. Castillo's family chose not to be represented legally and did not contest the findings during their testimony. 

This case underscores legal accountability in vehicular incidents involving unlicensed drivers and highlights the potential financial liabilities families may face from wrongful death claims. The verdict emphasizes compliance risks and the importance of diligent regulatory oversight in youth driving cases to prevent similar tragedies.