The father of an 11-year-old killed three years ago in a Shoreline crosswalk has reached a $600,000 settlement with the city of Shoreline and the motorist who struck his daughter.

The money, $500,000 from Shoreline and $100,000 from the motorist, was awarded to David Townsend, whose daughter, Tia, died after being struck by a car while she was walking to school. Since the accident Townsend has become a crusader for pedestrian safety, and he said he will use the money to help improve dangerous intersections.

"I never did it for money, but for accountability," said Townsend, a single father. "They [Shoreline] had an inherently dangerous intersection."

In the 12 years before his daughter's death, Townsend said, five pedestrians were killed and 11 injured at the intersection at 15th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 170th Street.

Andrew Cooley, Shoreline's attorney, called the decision to settle the case a typical business settlement.

"No doubt this was a tragic and unfortunate event," he said. "Everyone at the city is very upset for Mr. Townsend and his family, and this intersection had other accidents. All those factors combined made it good sense to settle the case."

Townsend had sued for $22 million but decided to settle the case just months before it was set to go to trial.

Tia and a schoolmate were struck by an 82-year-old driver who reportedly had passed to the right of several cars that had stopped for the girls. Tia was critically injured, never regained consciousness and died. The other girl suffered a broken arm.

After Tia's death her father created the nonprofit TIA (Traffic Intersection Awareness) Foundation to promote pedestrian safety. He urged the city to install a stoplight at the intersection.

But Cooley said consultants advised that a pedestrian signal not be installed at the intersection because of fears motorists might try to avoid the light by detouring onto surface neighborhood streets and putting more pedestrians at risk.

However, since the girl's death, the city has installed a flashing yellow light and flashing pavement lights. It also has reduced the former four-lane road to three lanes.

Townsend said he will use some of the money to buy public-service announcements about pedestrian safety.

"I finally get closure for her death," he said, pausing to reflect on his daughter's life. "Tia would be extremely proud."

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com