Blog Post

Vehicular Manslaughter Charges to be Filed in Santa Ana Freeway Crash


August 23, 2007
Topic: Truck Accidents

Back in May, three siblings aged between 2 and 5 were killed on the Santa Ana (I-5) Freeway, near Mission Viejo, California when their stopped minivan was hit by a big-rig truck owned by the Carson based K.W. Express. Two of the kids died instantaneously in the crash, while the third died in hospital. Their deaths sent shockwaves throughout the nation, and messages of sympathy poured in from all quarters. Their mother, Lori Coble, and grandmother, Cynthia Maestri, suffered severe injuries in the horrific accident.

Last week the California Highway Patrol submitted its report on the crash to the Orange County's District Attorney's Office, recommending that vehicular manslaughter charges be brought against the driver of the truck, Jorge Miguel Romero. The findings of the report indicate that Romero's dangerously fast driving lead to the fatal crash.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Romero told police he was driving at a speed between 55 to 60 mph in the slow lane on Interstate 5. When traffic suddenly slowed down, he couldn't decelerate the truck fast enough, and rammed through the Coble's 2006 Chrysler minivan that had stopped in a lane stacked with southbound cars. California law requires that drivers maintain a safe speed limit while driving that takes into consideration weather conditions, visibility, traffic and other factors.

Soon after the crash, investigators found that Carson, California based K.W. Express committed a series of traffic safety violations, including failing to test drivers for drugs and alcohol. Company officials failed to test Romero after the incident, whereas according to guidelines he should have been tested for alcohol within eight hours of the accident and for drugs within 32 hours.

According to court records, Romero seems to have a track record of speeding. He was cited on two occasions, in 2002 and 2006, for speeding while driving a tractor-trailer. He was ticketed back in 1997 for driving on a suspended license, and again in 2005 for driving without the lights on. This was not the kind of man who should have been allowed to drive an 80,000 pound machine, and especially not on a stretch of highway that's known to have some backed up traffic.

According to the Cobles' attorney, the family is exploring the possibilities of legal action against Romero, K.W. Express and Caltrans. Hopefully they will proceed with a wrongful death claim. This would send a powerful message to truck operators and drivers about the absolute necessity of strict safety guidelines, and prevent similar tragedies.

If you have been involved in a truck accident, you need the soundest and most experienced representation to proceed with your case. Call the personal injury attorneys at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.


The California personal injury attorneys at The Reeves Law Group represent victims of accidents, injuries and wrongful death throughout California from our offices in Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Ventura County, Fresno County, Kern County, Sacramento County, San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, Antelope Valley, Torrance, Glendale, Bakersfield, Santa Ana, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Ontario, and Victorville.