SR-25
03-03-2006, 08:47 AM
POMONA - Rudy Saldana Lopez told witnesses that he didn't see or hit a California Highway Patrol motor officer, minutes after his car collided with the officer's motorcycle causing fatal injuries, according to testimony.
During the second day of a preliminary hearing in the case, in which Lopez, 26, of Whittier is charged with vehicular manslaughter and murder of a peace officer, witnesses testified that Lopez seemed nervous, disoriented and distracted after the collision, and denied hitting anyone. "He stated that as he approached the intersection, there was a green light so he went through the intersection," said CHP Officer Theodore Jolin, who responded to the scene and talked to Lopez. "The next thing he knew, there was some kind of impact." that at about 10 a.m. Witnesses testified Sept. 25, 2005, David Romero, a 21-year veteran of the CHP Santa Fe Springs office, was stopped at a red light in the left-turn lane on Turnbull Canyon Road and Valley Boulevard in Industry when Lopez's blue Chevrolet Monte Carlo sped through the intersection, hitting Romero's motorcycle from behind, after Romero signaled for him to stop. Romero, 47, was thrown from his motorcycle and his helmet fell from his head. He sustained fatal injuries to his brain stem and aorta, and was pronounced dead after being airlifted to Queen of the Valley hospital. The preliminary hearing continues today. Prosecutor Darren Levine, a deputy district attorney, has charged Lopez with intentionally murdering Romero. A witness who was stopped next to Romero when the collision occurred told investigators that Lopez did not attempt to stop before hitting Romero. "The witness gave me some information that led me to believe that it was possibly an intentional act," Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy Mark Reyes testified. "She said she guessed \ was going about 40 miles per hour and it didn't appear his vehicle was attempting to slow or stop." Much of Thursday's testimony focused on the marijuana and methamphetamines found in Lopez's blood on the day of the collision. Lopez was on probation for drunk driving, and had recently completed a drug and alcohol counseling course mandated by the court, witnesses testified. Homicide investigators found about 3 grams of marijuana in Lopez's bedroom when they searched the Whittier apartment he shared with his mother, on the night of the collision. "He said he had smoked two marijuana joints the night before," Reyes, who arrested Lopez at a hospital after the collision, testified. "He told me that he used to have a problem with meth." Terence McGee, a doctor who specializes in addiction medicine, said that the levels of drugs found in Lopez's system could have caused Lopez to become violent, disinhibited and fearless. "There's a very strong connection linking methamphetamines and violence," McGee said. "They feel powerful, fearless. The combination of marijuana and methamphetamines has a synergistic effect. It prolongs the effects of the other drug." Defense attorney Todd Melnik said that Lopez may have fainted before the collision and woken up on impact, but a witness testified that Lopez's girlfriend told him that Lopez told her the officer cut him off, and that's why he crashed. Romero was the second CHP officer from the Santa Fe Springs office killed in the line of duty. In April 2004, Officer Thomas Steiner, 35, was gunned down outside outside of Pomona Superior Court by a 16-year-old boy who is now serving a life sentence. sandy.mazza@sgvn.com (562) 698-0955, Ext. 3026
http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_3564237
During the second day of a preliminary hearing in the case, in which Lopez, 26, of Whittier is charged with vehicular manslaughter and murder of a peace officer, witnesses testified that Lopez seemed nervous, disoriented and distracted after the collision, and denied hitting anyone. "He stated that as he approached the intersection, there was a green light so he went through the intersection," said CHP Officer Theodore Jolin, who responded to the scene and talked to Lopez. "The next thing he knew, there was some kind of impact." that at about 10 a.m. Witnesses testified Sept. 25, 2005, David Romero, a 21-year veteran of the CHP Santa Fe Springs office, was stopped at a red light in the left-turn lane on Turnbull Canyon Road and Valley Boulevard in Industry when Lopez's blue Chevrolet Monte Carlo sped through the intersection, hitting Romero's motorcycle from behind, after Romero signaled for him to stop. Romero, 47, was thrown from his motorcycle and his helmet fell from his head. He sustained fatal injuries to his brain stem and aorta, and was pronounced dead after being airlifted to Queen of the Valley hospital. The preliminary hearing continues today. Prosecutor Darren Levine, a deputy district attorney, has charged Lopez with intentionally murdering Romero. A witness who was stopped next to Romero when the collision occurred told investigators that Lopez did not attempt to stop before hitting Romero. "The witness gave me some information that led me to believe that it was possibly an intentional act," Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy Mark Reyes testified. "She said she guessed \ was going about 40 miles per hour and it didn't appear his vehicle was attempting to slow or stop." Much of Thursday's testimony focused on the marijuana and methamphetamines found in Lopez's blood on the day of the collision. Lopez was on probation for drunk driving, and had recently completed a drug and alcohol counseling course mandated by the court, witnesses testified. Homicide investigators found about 3 grams of marijuana in Lopez's bedroom when they searched the Whittier apartment he shared with his mother, on the night of the collision. "He said he had smoked two marijuana joints the night before," Reyes, who arrested Lopez at a hospital after the collision, testified. "He told me that he used to have a problem with meth." Terence McGee, a doctor who specializes in addiction medicine, said that the levels of drugs found in Lopez's system could have caused Lopez to become violent, disinhibited and fearless. "There's a very strong connection linking methamphetamines and violence," McGee said. "They feel powerful, fearless. The combination of marijuana and methamphetamines has a synergistic effect. It prolongs the effects of the other drug." Defense attorney Todd Melnik said that Lopez may have fainted before the collision and woken up on impact, but a witness testified that Lopez's girlfriend told him that Lopez told her the officer cut him off, and that's why he crashed. Romero was the second CHP officer from the Santa Fe Springs office killed in the line of duty. In April 2004, Officer Thomas Steiner, 35, was gunned down outside outside of Pomona Superior Court by a 16-year-old boy who is now serving a life sentence. sandy.mazza@sgvn.com (562) 698-0955, Ext. 3026
http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_3564237