The wrongful death trial for the widow of a car crash victim began this week in Santa Cruz County Superior Court. In 2012, 57-year-old Gerard Wener of Brentwood was killed when he slid into oncoming traffic on Highway 17 near Laurel Curve. Shortly after the crash, road amendments were installed to improve safety at Laurel Curve. The man’s widow, Diana Wener, is now suing Caltrans, citing the agency was at fault for not closing the median gap sooner. Wener is seeking $1.8 million in civil damages.
