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CHP team to use lasers to investigate fatal motorcycle accident
Topics: wren, fatal accident, motorcycle, accident, stallion springs police
Posted by editor Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:45:32 PDT
Viewed 2221 times
0 responses 15 comments The California Highway Patrol's (CHP) Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) is heading an investigation of the fatal accident that occurred at the intersection of Tehachapi Boulevard and Tucker Road on March 16.

According to Sergeant Mark McCormack of the CHP, the MAIT team will utilize lasers to create a three-dimensional image of the accident scene to help establish location and trajectories of various evidence, including rates of speed. The intersection was closed on Monday, March 26 while the MAIT team gathered evidence for their computerized accident re-creation.

“The Stallion Springs Police Department is dispatched from the Sheriff’s Department,” McCormack said. “They work close together. That’s why it was decided MAIT would handle the investigation,” McCormack said, adding that normally the KCSD would conduct the investigation. McCormack estimated that the investigation could take as long as three months to complete. 

Motorcyclist Calvin Lloyd Wren, 40, of Arvin, was pronounced dead at Kern Medical Center as a result of the injuries sustained during a collision with a Stallion Springs Police vehicle responding “Code-3,” en route to assist a fellow officer with a high-risk stop on Highway 58.

Stallion Springs Police Chief Brad Burris said Officer Gary Crowell is currently “taking a few days off,” while the investigation continues.

Burris could not comment on the specifics of the accident investigation, but noted that two arrests were made as a result of the high-risk stop made by a second SSPD officer.

According to Burris, Sean Scott Taylor, 28, also known as “Nasty,” and Gena Marie Toutellott, 28, both of Stallion Springs, were arrested on various counts of burglary, possession of stolen property and weapons charges.

“Both of these Stallion Springs residents have extensive records of drugs, weapons, burglary, assault, and evading arrest. Right now both are being held in Kern County Jail on numerous charges,” Burris said.

Burris said the investigation of the couple includes federal mail theft charges and that the department is still going through several hundred pieces of mail confiscated from the suspect’s vehicle during the arrest.

“This was a joint operation from the get-go, between us, the sheriffs [KCSD] the U.S. Postal Inspector and parole department,” Burris said, indicating that the Sheriff’s department had been notified prior to the stop that the investigation could culminate in the city or county areas.

“It was decided it was better to try to take them in town with extra help from the sheriffs and catch them before they could get home where we know they have an arsenal of weapons,” Burris said, indicating officers were responding to information that the suspect was coming up the freeway from Bakersfield.

“They [KCSD] were aware of the situation,” Burris said. “It was put out as high-risk stop dispatch.”

Sgt. Joe Giuffre, commander of the county substation of the KCSD, said he had no personal knowledge of the plan to stop the suspect on the freeway but one of his deputies may have been notified. 

“I knew they were doing an op [operation],” Giuffre said. “I didn’t know they were going to make a stop that day, but they may have coordinated with my deputies,” he said, adding that he was aware the SSPD had been “trying to serve a search warrant for a couple days.”

Sgt. Laura Lopez from the city substation of the KCSD said she had no prior knowledge of the planned stop.

“We heard over the radio Stallion Springs was conducting a high-risk car stop and was requesting assistance. We were aware of the situation at time it was being dispatched,” Lopez said. “By listening to the radio we were able to respond and assist in a critical situation.”

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Comment From: Screemy1

Hmmm, investigative?? wow 4-6 hours... this can't be for the accident last week could it? are they trying to figure how to change traffic pattern for new businesses??? Sure is a long time to investigate such a simple intersection.... Comment From: ChristineFroehlich

It's obviously for the accident since the poor guy died. Hmm, I am sniffing a lawsuit forthcoming any day now. The whole scenario is just a darn shame, and my heart goes out to the family and also to the sheriff. It was an accident and I am sure he feels terrible about it too. Comment From: gman

Before people make public comments about any given situation they should have all the facts. To Ms. Frochlich, it wasn't the sheriff's dept that was involved it was Stallion Springs PD. As for screemy1, your sarcasism is absolutely disrespectful, after all a person died. The CHP is doing a recontsruction, not for insurance but because there was a fatality and a police officer was involved, it had absolutely nothing to do with the surrounding business' nor the way the intersection was contructed. It had to do with speed and inattention. There are many questions that will have to be answered, what was Stallion Springs doing on Hwy 58 and why a traffic stop, why couldn't the sheriff or CHP assist, what was the emergency that caused another Stallion officer to think he had to respond at a high rate of speed and run a red light, and many more. There will be many people who will want answers and hopefully all will be answered when the investigation is completed. There was nothing funny or sarcastic about this sitution, so if you can't participate intelligently then don't participate at all. Comment From: Screemy1

my comment was before this story broke... I wrote this on a story when it just said the intersection would be closed for a traffic study.... Gman, that is were the sarcasim was from... And as for the investigation.... 8 am to past 4 pm... that was to much time to close the intersection... I saw an accident on the 202 because of the traffic nightmare.... investigate one intersection to cause wrecks on another... GREAT... Comment From: Red

Obviously, reading comprehension is lacking here. By reading the entire article, it answered many questions such as the reason why SSPD was involved with a stop on HWY 58, why the intersection was closed, and why CHP is conducting the investigation. Comment From: ChristineFroehlich

Gman, you obviously have an ax to grind. I made the simple mistake of the officer a Sheriff instead of the Stallion Springs police department officer when I knew it was a SS officer before I blogged. When I realized it, I also knew that most people knew what I meant anyway. I was neither being sarcastic, nor unfeeling. As I've said, I feel really bad for both parties involved. It's a tragic accident. Yes, I know it was an investigation, but the fact is litigation is likely to follow. I apologize if I offended you. Just because people have differing opinions doesn't not mean they lack intelligence. It's called freedom of speech. And by the way, a lot of times things are reported to the paper one way, and then turn out to be different later, that doesn't make us bad people because the facts change as do our opinions. Comment From: Screemy1

yeah hammer.... you nailed it! I really am a dork, I commented on a story that said traffic study road closure.... the TNews is the one that updated their post and left my comment on this story..... as for the length of time they closed it yeah... they could have done their investigation @ midnight.... I would have authorized the overtime to the investigation staff!sure wish I had a business at that intersection... they must have been booming with sales! Comment From: ShaneThePain

Dude! How can you make any commits about this before the investigation is done? You say in your profile you are in law enforcement but you bash the photo of the Sheriff Deputy doing his job. You also bash the photo taker for not helping. Both persons have a job and they were doing them. You have no clue of what was happening by just this photo. You and anyone else need to see what the investigation shows before you get on the anti-cop band wagon. You have people crying about the newspaper only printing “fluff”, now you have others crying about them printing the news. My advice to the Tehachapi News is this. Print what you want, print what you want to read. If people don’t like it let them kick rocks or let them start their own newspaper. Comment From: editor

Sgt. Jim Craig of the Kern County Sheriff's Department has asked the Tehachapi News  to post this response on his behalf.

I would like to respond to a blog posted by CdcK9 on March 28th regarding the front-page photo of the fatal traffic collision. A photo says a thousand words, but doesn’t tell a story. In the blog you make some comments that are wrong. And you refer to the “Officer that was standing over the victim doing nothing”. I was that officer.

First things, first. Obviously, from the photo you can see I was kneeling, not standing. I was following the instructions of Deputy Kimmel (who is a certified E.M.T. and teaches first aid in a POST Academy). I was kneeling with my knees at the lower portion of Mr. Wren’s back. This was so my legs would hold up Mr. Wren to help him breath. You probably don’t know how hard it is to hold someone up with your arms. You get tired really fast. My hands were trying to prevent his neck from moving. You said I was doing nothing while standing over the victim. You were wrong.What bothers me about your statement is that you appear to be in law enforcement.

Although it has been awhile since I went through the academy (20 years ago), I still remember numerous instructors cautioning us to refrain from “Monday Morning Quarterbacking”. I have been an instructor in the academy for awhile now. I know we refrain from making comments like yours because we don’t know the whole story.

Then your other comment bothered me: “An over zealous SSPD Officer (trying to make a name for himself) was operating way out of his immediate jurisdiction by performing a high risk stop on Highway 58”. Again, you were wrong.The high-risk stop on Highway 58 was a calculated risk. It was a high-risk car stop because the people in the car were dangerous. The decision to stop them before they got to their house was a logical choice (and the right one). The Officer involved was trying to get there to help his fellow officer. I was en-route myself, along with others.

Your sad characterization of the officer involved in the collision is horribly wrong. That Officer would crawl on his hands and knees through broken glass to help you. He took an oath (just like the thousand of police officers in the state of California) to protect and serve. I have had the pleasure of working with him and know he is a fine officer. He is neither over-zealous nor trying to make a name for himself (as you claimed in your blog). This was a horrible collision and the fear of every officer who sits behind the wheel of a patrol car.It is easy for you to write the nasty comments in your blog. Your statements are biased and wrong. I feel you owe the Officer an apology. But you probably won’t. That’s okay because that Officer will still do everything in his power to protect you if you ever have to need him. Comment From: medicone

Now you can see why CDC officers have a BAD reputation. Comment From: THSpride

Yes prison guards enforce the Title 15 rules and regs. They also have a badge and whistle. A school recess lady has a badge, whistle and enforces the Title 1 rules and regs. Are they both "Law Enforcement"? Comment From: tehachapigrouch

First, Sgt. Craig, congrats on your promotion, you certainly deserve it. To the K9 Guard, you must have got caught doing 90 down the freeway by a real cop and now you hold a grudge. To say the things you did, you certainly aren't a fellow law enforcement officer. I know the officer involved and know he is well trained. Let the investigation take place and wait for the results before you take your foot out of your mouth. Comment From: CdcK9

Sgt. Jim Craig~ I am deeply sorry for making the statements I made regarding the photo of the accident and in response to the Officer that made the high-risk stop. I was very wrong and regret that I said it. I humbly apologies to you and your partner personally and I removed my comments. I'm not going to try and justify or make any attempt to make any excuses for it. I do appreciate the job you guys are doing out there and have all the respect to you and your department. I hope the editor will forward my apologies to you and anybody else that I may have offended. I'm very sorry...... Comment From: Denise1024

The responses posted to this and other articles shows small town mentality in a big way. Why is it that some would want to argue points or degrade others, with little or no facts to back their statements. Stop the finger pointing! Think how you would feel if you were in the same position. Whatever happened to compassion? Comment From: FragemalFieldMouse

Well said CdcK9.