Posted on 06/09/2016 1:18:20 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Officials have identified a Northern California teen who was killed in a crash when a California Highway Patrol officer became distracted, possibly by his computer, investigators said Wednesday.
Weston Sites, 15, of Willows, was a student at Willows High School and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Glenn County Sheriff's Office.
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The CHP officer, identified only as a 49-year-old man from Willows, was driving his patrol vehicle just before 3:30 p.m. north on Interstate 5 coming up to a construction zone, south of the County Road 20 over-crossing in Orland, the CHP said.
Traffic was slowed south of the construction zone, and the officer became distracted and was unable to stop in time to avoid vehicles in front of him.
"(The officer's) attention was diverted away from the road, looking down at, I believe, his computer," CHP Sgt. Tony Odell said. "When he looked up, traffic was slowing and coming to a stop. (He) applied his brakes and rear-ended the vehicle that was in front of him, which subsequently got pushed into two other vehicles that were stopped."
The officer hit a 2013 Hyundai, which was being driven by a 17-year-old girl from Willows. Sites was sitting in the back seat of the vehicle. The driver's 14-year-old sister was also a passenger in the car.
Both sisters suffered minor injuries and were taken to a hospital, but were later released.
Two other vehicles were also involved in the crash.
"The CHP extends our deepest condolences to the family of the teenager who was killed in this collision, and our wishes for a smooth recovery for those injured," the CHP said, in a released statement.
The CHP officer, who is a 20-year veteran of the department, suffered minor injuries.
In spite of the agency’s statement at the scene of the crash, CHP said Wednesday that the accident remains under investigation. Distracted driving is one possible cause, said Assistant Chief Todd Garr.
“That may have been a component in this investigation, but there may have been others,” Garr said. “We don’t want to be premature in saying this was the cause of the accident.”
But, if the investigation finds the officer at fault, the findings will be forwarded to the Glenn County District Attorney’s office for possible charges, Garr said.
The crash closed northbound I-5 for about six hours.
A separate investigation team is looking into the crash, including determining the officer's actions leading up to and at the time of the crash.
No additional details were given.
Hope the officer made it home safe.
It’s the kid’s fault for being on the road where the cop could hit him.
Nanny staters have pursued mobile phone users to the ends of the earth.
Governments are happy to capitalize - literally - by writing tickets.
Meanwhile, cops do 90mph on the highway in non-emergency situations while talking on a hand held phone. Their cruisers have laptops, plate readers, radios, and more.
Did the cops cite the offending driver for ‘impeding an officer’?
Maybe the victim had a dog. The offending officer could the go over and shoot it.
So, having a badge doesn’t cure being distracted while driving. Who knew?
Fire him and charge him with manslaughter.
L
Had almost the exact same thing here in Reno a few days ago. Thankfully no one died.
It’s okay when a cop does it. They’re more equal than normal Americans.
Where I live, a cop ran over an older lady crossing the street in broad daylight.
Another one tried to molest a woman in the alley with booze on his breath.
Cops are no better than the average Joe.....they just have bigger egos.
No,it just keeps one from going to jail when they kill someone. His first words probably were,”I was in fear for my life”.
In this story, a ‘School Crossing Guard Supervisor’ ran into a kid.
If that’s not ironic enough, the kid was a cop’s son.
Traffic fines double in a construction zone.
“Cops are no better than the average Joe.....they just have bigger egos.”
And deadly weapons!
How many of us would be afforded the anonymity of this officer?
The CHP officer, identified only as a 49-year-old man from Willows
How many of us would be afforded the anonymity of this officer?
One set of laws for us, one set of laws for them.
Justice is not blind......
I think the police are, for the most part, armed report- takers. They don’t prevent crime by their presence, and are not obligated to protect individual citizens.
in my area, there are special rights for cops in cars to use their cell phones while driving...its we mere peasants that the rules were made for....
“Cops are no better than the average Joe.....they just have bigger egos.”
And deadly weapons!
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And corrupt union litigators. Excuse the redundancy.
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