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A Tooele mother, whose daughter died in an all-terrain vehicle crash, is suing the city over what she calls defamation and intentionally inflicting emotional distress.

Necole Anderson filed a complaint in 3rd District Court last week, accusing the Tooele Police Department of inaccurately disclosing her medical information and publicly accused her of being intoxicated after the death of her 9-year-old daughter, Caessea, last year.

"Ms. Anderson is now attempting to cope with the emotional upheaval of losing a young child, exacerbated by scorn and public ridicule stemming from false and reckless criminal allegations," the complaint reads.

On Feb. 8, 2015, Anderson was driving her 13-year-old daughter and Caessea on an ATV in their neighborhood. Caessea begged to steer.

Anderson acquiesced and sat directly behind Caessea, helping to hold the handlebars.

"[Caessea] initiated a left turn while steering and [Anderson] adjusted her grip to help her daughter turn, briefly moving her hand away from the throttle," the complaint reads. Caessea then "accidentally pressed the throttle, accelerating the ATV towards a large rock in the family's front yard."

The complaint notes that it is "not uncommon" for less-experienced riders to accidentally press this throttle, especially while turning left.

Anderson tried to slow down and redirect the ATV, but it was too late, the complaint adds. After crashing near Century Drive and Broadmoor Drive, Caessea died on the way to the hospital.

Paramedics gave Anderson Valium because she "was distraught with concern for her daughters" and the paramedics thought she was "highly agitated."

Later, Anderson told the police who were taking her blood sample "that they would likely find evidence of marijuana in her blood," the complaint reads, "and she had used it two days prior to the accident." However, she told them that she was not under the influence at the time of the crash, nor had she taken any marijuana in the two days prior.

A month later, police reported that Anderson had tested positive for Valium and marijuana, and that she would face a vehicular homicide charge, the complaint alleges.

"It was only after it came to light that Ms. Anderson had been administered Valium after the accident and that she was not under the influence of marijuana at the time of the accident that the Tooele City Corporation prosecutor dropped the vehicular homicide charge," according to the complaint.

Anderson seeks damages and demands a jury trial for the case.

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