CHP says La Habra officer should be charged in fatal crash

The California Highway Patrol is recommending prosecutors file vehicular manslaughter charges against a La Habra officer who broadsided a PT Cruiser, killing a La Habra couple on April 5. The CHP investigation indicated Officer Nancy Garcia entered the Euclid Street and La Habra Boulevard intersection against a red light at 62 mph at the time of ...

[Mike]

I tell you if she had on her siren and lights it's just a bad accident. She was on a call just last Sunday I was at a light and a fire truck blew thru the light at around 45mph this was a fire truck not a little police cruser my left turn arrow just turned green if we would have went there would have been a pretty good accident but we heard the sirens coming and I seen the lights. This is a good reason they should change all the lights to the ones that automaticlly change when it picks up the lights on the vehicle and the lights turn green for the emergency vehicles this would save not only inocent people but also the emergence people also!!!!!

[TMarie]

I am sorry they are dead. But, why didn't they pull over?

[Citizen]

I agree. It is a tragic accident. Putting emergency sensors or some type of light that indicates oncoming emergency vehicle is something to consider.
I don't understand why the officer is being charged.

[Mya]

Seriously, you hear a siren, you pull over. Is this writer omitting information? What is the basis of the charges? Hundreds of drivers hear the wailing sounds and obey the law. I am sure Officer Garcia didn't intentionally drive into them. It is a tragedy that they are dead. Is it me or does the idea of the CHP and the D.A. teaming up sound like they are ganging up on the officer.

[mark fermin]

that cop was an idiot...she should have slowed down to about 30-40 mph...you do not always hear sirens

[Patches Ohoulihan]

The cop was at fault, no doubt...A light and siren is not always seen or heard. The officer lacked good judgement in her decision to run that red light. You can't "clear" an intersection at that speed, it was a bad decison with a cointoss result.

Think about how hard it would be to hear this cop car if she's coming at 60+ mph from another direction, even if you heard it and she was a block away, you'd be lucky to make it through or stop in time...speed kills, even when the law does it.

[i love lucy]

The CHP said the officer "should" be charged! WOW thats crazy. Maybe they meant "could" be charged. Officer Nancy I'm sure you didn't start your shift ever thinking something like this would happen. Pray to God and he will give you hope, strength and peace during these times. God bless you.

[Peter Griffin]

I'm sorry the two people died, I feel for the children. I don't want anyone to think I'm bad mouthing the officer nor the two "other" victims. That's right, the officer is a victim too, and has to live with that shadow every day. Who knows if she'll ever be able to return to full duty and respond code three when not just her brother officers need help, but to assist citizens too. I also do see too many people who DON'T yield to emergency vehicles, that includes the fools WHO DON'T KNOW RULES OF THE ROAD! YOU PULL TO THE RIGHT, you don't stop where you are, in the first or second lane. I don't know who's at fault nor may never find out, but I'm sorry for all directly involved here. I pray the officer isn't prosecuted for making a mistake while trying to do her job and for the family that they get more comfort in losing their family members.

[Stupid Criminals]

This is such a sad story. I'm confident that the cop was trying to do the right thing, but blowing through a red light at that speed ... that poor couple had no warning and stood no chance in a little car against a giant Crown Vic. You've gotta wonder what she was thinking running through that small intersection at such high speed.

But let's not turn ALL our rage against the cop. Remember, if the parolee hadn't been involved in another felony, this deadly collision would not have occurred. The single most culpable person is the career felon who started this whole mess. The only innocent people are the ones who perished.

[Stupid Criminals]

i love lucy wrote:

The CHP said the officer "should" be charged! WOW thats crazy. Maybe they meant "could" be charged.

The CHP does not bring charges, they can only make a recommendation. The District Attorney makes the final decision about what charges are filed.

[allen]

Its La Habra, They will find a way to cover it up. I do hope she gets whats comming to her though. Fired, some jail time and then take her out back and beet the crap out of her.

[Doug]

I have lived in the city for 47 years. It seems like all the police do now is write tickets. Your chance of getting one to come out on a call is slim and none. LHPD doing there job is like big foot, you hear about it but no one has ever seen it.

[bjq]

To Allen your an idiot!!! the Officer was doing her job going after a Felony, it's to bad about the people that died, but people do not pull over when they hear a siren, this officer was going to a call for officer assistance.

[Logic]

Officer Garcia is no doubt in her early 20's with only 2 years of job experience. She just a kid trying to do a tough job in an industry that has historically been control by men. Don't attack her. She is a victim that will carry the memory and stigma of this horrible accident for the rest of her life and career. That is her punishment for her MISTAKE. She was trying to do the right thing and catch a fleeing felon. She shouldn't be charged with anything, the FELON that caused this should be MURDER. Sad situation for all involved.

[Juggernaut]

Sad for all parties involved. Good points from both sides here.

[Allen]

To:BJG

Do you really think the officer cares about the people she killed. I would bet you she is more upset about the people being in her way in the first place and now she has to work a desk job. In her eyes it is all there fault. I bet she never gave the accident a second thought.

[hang em high]

Allen wrote:

To:BJG
Do you really think the officer cares about the people she killed. I would bet you she is more upset about the people being in her way in the first place and now she has to work a desk job. In her eyes it is all there fault. I bet she never gave the accident a second thought.

What a d**k you are, this officer was involved in a very horrible misfortune, it was an accident plain and simple. She was responding to a fleeing felon, a parolee-at-large. Maybe she should have not responded in the way she did and let this fleeing felon break into your home to hold you and your loved one hostage. You people b**ch and whine over putting cops in jail, but who are the first one's you call when you are the victim of a crime. If the PAL was caught that a**hole should be charged with double murder under the felony murder rule. CHP ("Can't Handle Police" work) should not be recommending anything, they just need to present their findings (which are not always correct) to the D.A. and shut up.

[Vero]

Allen wrote:

To:BJG
Do you really think the officer cares about the people she killed. I would bet you she is more upset about the people being in her way in the first place and now she has to work a desk job. In her eyes it is all there fault. I bet she never gave the accident a second thought.

Your an idiot Allen. Of course she cares about the people that were killed and I'm sure she cares about their loved ones. It was just a horrible accident and she was doing her job not realizing that something this bad could happen. Keep the faith Officer Garcia, my prayers are with you and the Antuna family.

[lm fan]

Exactly cops think they can do what they want as in running red lights they do it all the time why havent they done anything before? i guess they were just waiting for someone to get killed before they would prosecute a cop

[Cathy in TN]

I agree with everyone that says they should have stopped or pulled over. I live in TN now and they do not stop or pull over for anyone with lights on or sirens. To me it is for your safety as well as who ever is at the other end waiting for the help.

Mike wrote:

I tell you if she had on her siren and lights it's just a bad accident. She was on a call just last Sunday I was at a light and a fire truck blew thru the light at around 45mph this was a fire truck not a little police cruser my left turn arrow just turned green if we would have went there would have been a pretty good accident but we heard the sirens coming and I seen the lights. This is a good reason they should change all the lights to the ones that automaticlly change when it picks up the lights on the vehicle and the lights turn green for the emergency vehicles this would save not only inocent people but also the emergence people also!!!!!