<p>OCEAN CITY, Md. — The lawsuit surrounding the death of a woman who was accidentally buried alive on a Maryland beach by a tractor has been dismissed from federal court.</p>
<p>The Daily Times <a href="https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2021/05/25/lawsuit-surrounding-death-texas-woman-ocean-city-beach-dismissed-ashley-oconnor/7432216002/">reports </a> that attorneys representing Ocean City and the victim’s mother filed a joint motion Tuesday stipulating the dismissal of the claims with prejudice. It doesn’t say whether there was a settlement, but documents filed earlier this year stated both parties had made “substantial progress toward resolution” and were hopeful the matter could be resolved soon. </p>
<p>In the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/5b0fc1bab2c94a0aa41a61d1975a7a5c"> lawsuit filed in 2019</a>, Gayla Lutyk and her attorney say town workers’ negligence caused her daughter, 30-year-old Ashley O’Connor, to be trapped in the sand in 2017. The lawsuit alleged that workers didn’t investigate whether anyone was on the beach before twice driving a tractor over the Plano, Texas, woman as it covered holes. The suit sought $1 million in damages.</p>
<p>Ocean City officials had stated that a medical examiner ruled O’Connor’s death accidental, caused by asphyxia due to suffocation.</p>
<p>Edward Brown, attorney for Lutyk, declined to discuss the case when contacted Tuesday. Bruce Bright, who represented Ocean City, couldn’t be reached for a comment.</p>
