Investigation continues into motorcyclist fatality involving Stallion Springs police officer
Investigation continues into motorcyclist fatality involving Stallion Springs police officer
By: by Mary Clyde, Contributing Writer
Description: Final MAIT report for March 16 accident remains incomplete
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Posted by editor Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
Viewed 654 times
0 responses 3 comments Months have passed since the fatal accident at Tehachapi Boulevard and Tucker Road involving motorcyclist Calvin Wren, 40, of Arvin, and Stallion Springs Police Officer Gary Crowell, with no official word on the outcome of the investigation currently being conducted by the CHP's Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT).
Earlier estimates of three months to complete the MAIT investigation have come and gone and, as of Dec. 4, the CHP continues to wait for the report.
According to Officer Steve Hunsacker of the CHP station in Mojave, they had hoped to have the MAIT report by the end of November. “It's not uncommon, however, for the report to take substantially longer,” he said. “MAIT is a very busy and thorough unit and it just takes time.”
“Once it is received, the whole report cannot be released for public information,” he added. “However, information not covered under the Privacy Act can and will be released when we get the report,” said Hunsacker.
To the best of his knowledge, the matter has not been referred to the District Attorney for any further handling at this time. Meanwhile, a lawsuit has been filed and was served last week on the Stallion Springs Police Department and Officer Crowell. Stallion Springs Police Chief Brad Burris was unable to comment specifically on any allegations contained in the suit.
“I've forwarded the paperwork to our lawyer and insurance company for response,” he said.
Multiple attempts to reach the Wren family for comment have gone unanswered.
Crowell, who has been with the SSPD for about four years according to Burris, was on administrative leave for three days and took some additional vacation time after the accident.
“He's been back to work for a while now and has been doing a good job.”
According to Sergeant Joe Lundy of the Inland Division MAIT Unit, because of the depth of their investigations, the final written reports tend to take some time. The investigative part is done first, followed by a written report. And, like the cases themselves, the written reports are done in the order the case is received, Lundy explained. “No one case takes precedence over another. They all are important.”
Earlier statements indicated the MAIT team would 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. This information would be used in the compilation of a written report.
“We have completed the investigative part of this particular case and it's now ready for the written report to be done,” he said. “But we do have other cases in front of this one and, realistically, it could take another couple of months to actually get it completed and sent out.”
Lundy indicated that the ten-day delay in getting the MAIT team to the accident site should not have an effect on their findings. “I wasn't the Sergeant when the accident occurred, but as long as skid marks etc. were properly marked and photographed at the time of the accident by the officers then present, the outcome would be the same despite any delay in our getting to the scene,” he said.
Lundy explained that the Inland Division MAIT Unit technically works for the Mojave CHP and are a supportive unit for that office. “We defer any accident-specific questions to the CHP people,” he added.
“We typically handle about 50 cases per year and at the present time are working about 15 cases. And this is in addition to our teaching schedule and the ongoing training we are required to do in order to maintain our certification.”
Details of the accident previously released by the CHP indicate thaton Officer Crowell was traveling northbound on Tucker Road, “Code-3,” with sirens and lights flashing, en route to assist another Stallion Springs Police Department officer who already made a high-risk stop on Highway 58. Crowell entered the intersection on a red light.
Wren, operating a 1999 Harley Davidson, was moving westbound on Tehachapi Boulevard, entered the intersection on a green light and collided with Crowell's patrol vehicle. Wren was wearing a helmet and was thrown from his motorcycle. He was transported by Mercy Air to the Kern County Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.
Because the Stallion Springs Police Department is dispatched from the local Sheriff's Department and the two offices work very closely, it was decided that MAIT would handle the investigation, Sergeant Mark McCormack of the CHP explained at the time of the accident.
Chief Burris still is unable to comment specifically about the incident.
“As long as the matter is under investigation, I can't make any direct comments about the accident,” he said. “But I can tell you that the individuals we were serving an arrest warrant are very dangerous people doing very dangerous things,” Burris added. “We were doing our job when unfortunately something bad happened.”
Assorted drug paraphernalia was confiscated at the arrest scene as well as other items which linked Gena Tourtellott, 23, and Sean “Nasty” Taylor, 28, to various counts of burglary, possession of stolen property, including hundreds of pieces of mail not belonging to the suspects, and weapons charges in Stallion Springs and the Bakersfield area, Burris said.
According to Brian Stainfield, Assistant District Attorney in Mojave, the Tourtelott and Taylor currently are doing state time.
According to Stainfield, Tourtellott pled out and received a two-year sentence, and Taylor stipulated to four years in state prison. Often there is a “credit earned” for inmates, Stainfield said. “It's usually a day credit for each day served. So, Tourtellott most likely will be out in about a year.”
When Tourtellott and Taylor eventually are released from prison, both will be assigned parole officers for anywhere from three to five years, Stainfield said.
“And, they'll be required to check in regularly and will be subject to property search provisions,” he added.
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Mon Dec 10, 2007 23:07:52 PST
Nice way you spin this story.This story is not about the crocks that where stopped on hwy 58 and how they well be required to check in regularly. It is about a cop that blow past a red light and killed an innocent person.
Tue Dec 11, 2007 00:34:04 PST
What? I have no idea what you meant to say.
Since this terrible accident I haven't heard about SSPD following people into the city. I never understood why they, one officer in particular, wanted to see where people drove after they left SS.
Sun Jun 29, 2008 11:12:48 PDT
California Vehicle Code or C.V.C. States:Authorized Emergency Vehicles21806. Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle which is sounding a siren and which has at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light that is visible, under normal atmospheric conditions, from a distance of 1,000 feet to the front of the vehicle, the surrounding traffic shall, except as otherwise directed by a traffic officer, do the following: (a) (1) Except as required under paragraph (2), the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to the right-hand edge or curb of the highway, clear of any intersection, and thereupon shall stop and remain stopped until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed. (2) A person driving a vehicle in an exclusive or preferential use lane shall exit that lane immediately upon determining that the exit can be accomplished with reasonable safety. (b) The operator of every street car shall immediately stop the street car, clear of any intersection, and remain stopped until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed. (c) All pedestrians upon the highway shall proceed to the nearest curb or place of safety and remain there until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed. Amended Sec. 68, Ch. 1154, Stats. 1996. Effective September 30, 1996. so get your facts straight bud before you post a comment about something. ITS THE LAW THE RIDER BROKE IT!!!
