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Former Murrieta Mayor Faces Negligence Lawsuit

The former Mayor of Murrieta, facing DUI charges in a crash that injured four girls, faces a lawsuit in the case

Four high school cheerleaders hurt in a crash involving the former mayor of Murrieta filed a lawsuit against him on Monday.

Long "willfully and intentionally" drove in "conscious disregard for the safety of others" in the suspected DUI crash, according to the lawsuit filed Monday in Riverside County.

He stepped down as mayor, but unofficial results from last Tuesday's election show he may have been re-elected to the City Council.

Long's attorney, Virginia Blumenthal, said in a statement she was reserving comment because she hadn't seen the lawsuit.

Long was allegedly driving under the influence Oct. 16 in Murrieta when he rear-ended a car and injured four cheerleaders, police said.

Long, who is also a battalion chief with the Anaheim Fire Department, failed a field sobriety test with a .08 blood alcohol content level, but passed a breathalyzer test, police said.

Long, 44, plowed into the back of the car carrying cheerleaders from a pep rally as it was stopped at a light, police said.

The girls, ranging in age from 14 to 17, were taken to the hospital with moderate to major injuries.

Long will remain on duty with the Anaheim Fire Department as the investigation proceeds.

The girls hurt in the crash admonished Long the day after he was re-elected as a city councilman.

Long made national news in July when he encouraged residents to oppose a federal government plan to process Central American immigrants at the U.S. Border Patrol facility in Murrieta.

Buses transporting the immigrants to the facility were forced to turn around when protesters blocked the road.

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