Family of Pronoy Bhattacharya files lawsuit against city, BioPark for deadly hit-and-run

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The family of Pronoy Bhattacharya, the 7-year-old boy who was killed in a hit-and-run crash outside the River of Lights in 2021, has filed a lawsuit against the City of Albuquerque.

Last month, a jury convicted the man behind the wheel, but the boy’s family says the responsibility for what happened goes well beyond that driver.

The family of Pronoy Bhattacharya and a representative are suing the New Mexico BioPark Society, the City of Albuquerque, and other entities involved with the event.

The lawsuit claims the city and the BioPark failed to ensure safety for the family. The city has since changed those safety protocols, adding more transportation options for the event and implementing more traffic control.

The lawsuit also alleges that the restaurant that served drinks to Sergio Almanza – the man who hit Pronoy – destroyed evidence. It claims the workers knowingly served him while intoxicated, and beyond that, the restaurant failed to preserve video and receipt evidence.

Almanza was not alone on the night of the crash. The lawsuit names a handful of others who helped hide and dispose of evidence.

As for Alamanza, he faces up to 30 years behind bars. His sentencing hearing is set for the end of November.