The family of a Western student killed in an automobile accident involving a Bowling Green police officer agreed to a settlement of $1 million with the city of Bowling Green, according to a statement from the family’s attorney, Phil Grossman of Louisville.

Evansville sophomore Allison “Ali” Carter, 20, died when her car was hit in the side by a police cruiser on April 2, 2006.

Carter’s parents are relieved the case is over and that Bowling Green recognized its significance, “so that some amount of closure could be brought to this tragic event,” Grossman stated.

Carter’s father, Michael, said the family has good days and bad.

“We lost a fine daughter and we’re having a hard time,” Michael Carter said. “In discussing the lawsuit, money wasn’t the determining factor – we wanted to accomplish something positive.”

Michael Carter said police officers need to slow down and be more careful when driving in the area of the university campus.

The Carter family offered to establish a fund to train police officers in traffic safety issues, Michael Carter said. The city of Bowling Green has not responded to the Carters’ offer.

The family’s offer to meet with Chief Doug Hawkins about how to help families in crisis also has not been acknowledged, Carter said.

Bowling Green City Attorney Gene Harmon said he believes Hawkins would be open to meeting with the Carter family.

Hawkins could not be reached for comment.

Hawkins was not the police chief at the time the accident happened, Harmon said.

The family established three scholarships in Ali’s name at schools in Evansville; one at Reitz Memorial High School, a second at Ivy Tech College and the third at the University of Southern Indiana, Michael Carter said.

Ali Carter, attempting to cross Kentucky Street from 13th Avenue, ran the stop sign and was hit by a police cruiser driven by Officer David Hall.

Hall, driving 47 mph, was responding to a “level 2″ call, which meant he was supposed to observe the posted speed limit of 35 mph.

Hall was responding to a hit-and-run call.

He did not have his lights or sirens on.

Under Bowling Green police policy, officers are to leave their lights and sirens off unless they are driving through an intersection where they don’t have the right of way, said Barry Pruitt, public information officer for Bowling Green police.

Hall received remedial training after the accident, Pruitt said.

Carter was a member of the Chi Omega sorority and, according to President Molly Donnelly, Carter was a “great member who will always be a part of our sorority.”

Donnelly said that each year on the anniversary of Carter’s death, the Chi Omega sisters assemble at the sight of the accident to say a prayer and have a moment of silence in Carter’s memory.

Reach Larry Rowell at news@chherald.com.