A tragic accident at a beachside party in California has led to a legal settlement after a woman died when an ATV went over a cliff. The lawsuit accused the party host, a stunt pilot who worked on the movie Top Gun: Maverick, of providing drugs and alcohol to the driver involved in the crash. The case has drawn attention to issues of responsibility and safety at private events.
Woman Dies After ATV Falls Off Cliff
The incident happened in December 2020 in San Luis Obispo County, California. Tanya Hendry, 34, died after an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) went over a cliff during a party held near the coastline.
According to the lawsuit filed by her family, Hendry was riding in the ATV when it plunged off the beachside cliff. She reportedly died by drowning shortly after the fall.
The vehicle was being driven by Maria Arayza-Alvarez, who also survived the crash but later faced criminal charges related to the incident.
Driver Convicted After Crash
Following the accident, authorities charged Maria Arayza-Alvarez with several offenses connected to the crash.
The charges included:
- Driving under the influence
- Causing injury or death to another person
- Gross vehicular manslaughter
Court records show that Arayza-Alvarez was later convicted and sentenced to four months in jail. She had previously reached a separate settlement with Hendry’s family.
Family Files Lawsuit Against Party Host
In 2022, Hendry’s family filed a civil lawsuit against Jonathan Spano, the host of the party where the incident occurred. Spano is a California stunt pilot who has worked on film productions, including the 2022 movie Top Gun: Maverick.
The lawsuit claimed that Spano and the property owner, Harmony Bluffs LLC, were responsible for creating unsafe conditions during the party.
According to the complaint, the defendants allegedly provided alcohol and drugs to guests and allowed them to operate a high-performance recreational vehicle during the event.
Allegations of Reckless Behavior
The lawsuit stated that the party was meant to resemble a festival-style gathering during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the legal complaint, guests were allegedly allowed to drive a high-performance ATV known as a Can-Am vehicle.
The family claimed that the driver had no experience operating such a vehicle and was under the influence at the time.
The complaint also alleged that the ATV was driven at night near a dangerous cliff area without proper safety warnings or barriers.
According to the lawsuit, these conditions contributed to the ATV going over the edge of the cliff.
Claims of Unsafe Property Conditions
Hendry’s family also argued that the property owner and party host failed to warn guests about the danger of the nearby cliff.
The lawsuit stated that the defendants did not provide adequate safeguards or warnings about the steep drop-off near where the vehicle was being driven.
The family claimed that these failures created a hazardous environment that ultimately led to the fatal accident.
Settlement Reached With Stunt Pilot
Jonathan Spano has now reached a settlement agreement with Hendry’s family. However, the exact terms of the settlement have not been publicly disclosed.
Attorneys representing Spano did not provide public comments regarding the agreement.
The settlement follows the earlier resolution between the family and the driver involved in the crash.
Family Says Accountability Was Important
Nicholas Rowley, the attorney representing Hendry’s family, said the case was about accountability rather than revenge.
He explained that people sometimes make serious mistakes, but what matters most is whether they take responsibility for their actions.
According to Rowley, the settlement represents an acknowledgment of responsibility, which was an important outcome for the family.
