Columbia mayor reaches settlement in wreck

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin has reached a settlement with a woman who was severely injured in a wreck he was involved in hours after he was elected.

The State newspaper reported Thursday the mayor’s attorney, Columbia Rep. James Smith, said the terms of the settlement with Deborah Rubens have not been released.

Rubens was hurt in the wreck about 5:45 a.m. on April 21 when her car was hit by Benjamin as he drove to a television interview the morning after he was elected.

Benjamin does not admit liability in the documents provided to the newspaper by Smith.

Rubens’ attorney Rick Detwiler says she is living at home with a full-time caregiver.

A Columbia police investigation found Benjamin was driving without his headlights when the accident happened. He paid an $87 traffic ticket.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All rights reserved.)