alexfarrington
01-10-2009, 02:44 PM
Pregnant woman about to give birth among victims in fatal crash
The Bakersfield Californian | Friday, Jan 9 2009 11:44 AM
Last Updated: Saturday, Jan 10 2009 10:56 AM
A head-on wreck first believed to have killed three people late Friday morning in south Bakersfield actually killed four — one was a pregnant woman being rushed to the hospital by her husband, California Highway Patrol officials confirmed Friday night.
http://static.bakersfield.com/smedia/2009/01/09/13/462-3FATALONECC.embedded.prod_affiliate.25.jpg (http://static.bakersfield.com/smedia/2009/01/09/13/271-3FATALONECC.standalone.prod_affiliate.25.jpg) http://static.bakersfield.com/smedia/2009/01/09/13/432-3FATALTWOCC.embedded.prod_affiliate.25.jpg (http://static.bakersfield.com/smedia/2009/01/09/13/53-3FATALTWOCC.standalone.prod_affiliate.25.jpg)
Photos by Casey Christie / The Californian
Kern County Fire Department and CHP responded to a three fatal two-vehicle accident Friday morning on Houghton Road near Wible Road.
A fiery collision between two pickups killed 27-year-old Misty Gibbs of Lamont, her 42-year-old husband, who officials have not identified, and their soon-to-be-born child, officials said. Andrew Leonicio Marroquin, a 21-year-old man from Arvin, was also killed.
It happened at about 11:30 a.m. at Houghton and Wible roads when a Chevy pickup driven by Gibbs' husband barreled through the intersection at about 65 mph, according to CHP.
The pickup ended up airborne and flew into the oncoming lane, smashing into a Nissan pickup coming the opposite way. The Chevy caught fire.
Sgt. Patti Mackey said Gibbs' husband was driving and was likely rushing to the hospital because she was in labor. An employer of Gibbs told CHP investigators the husband picked her up to take her to the hospital, Mackey said.
The drivers of both vehicles were killed immediately. Officer Joshua Hatfield spotted Gibbs on fire in the Chevy when he arrived on the scene and pulled her out of the truck, but she died as well and may have already been dead when Hatfield arrived at the scene, officials said.
Gibbs' husband and Marroquin were burned beyond recognition, according to the coroner's office.
Hatfield suffered injuries while pulling the woman from the truck but they weren't believed to be serious.
posted by kywls on Jan 9, 2009 at 09:14 PM
Most people only see the dark and mean spirited side of our police and highway patrol officers, but this amazing act of self sacrifice and attempted rescue proves that there are still true heroes in our law enforcers. I cannot express my gratitude enough just knowing that there are men of this magnitude watching out for us in our daily routine. I was stopped for speeding on 178 near the portion of freeway that enters Lake Isabella not long ago and was pretty miffed by the fine but later seeing the body of a man that crashed the next day near the same location made me thankful to be an American and knowing that our law enforcers are there for our good. Great thanks to all the men of California Highway Patrol.Ah, another satisfied customer.
The quote from kywls was a comment from a reader, and posted at the bottom of the original news story.
Hopefully Officer Hatfield recovers quickly. It's just tragic that this could have been avoided by either a) calling an ambulance initially, or b) driving in a safe and responsible manner.
Another story about the wreck reports that the 21 year old sole occupant of the second truck was unrestrained, leading to his ejection and death. Just a sad one all around.
The Bakersfield Californian | Friday, Jan 9 2009 11:44 AM
Last Updated: Saturday, Jan 10 2009 10:56 AM
A head-on wreck first believed to have killed three people late Friday morning in south Bakersfield actually killed four — one was a pregnant woman being rushed to the hospital by her husband, California Highway Patrol officials confirmed Friday night.
http://static.bakersfield.com/smedia/2009/01/09/13/462-3FATALONECC.embedded.prod_affiliate.25.jpg (http://static.bakersfield.com/smedia/2009/01/09/13/271-3FATALONECC.standalone.prod_affiliate.25.jpg) http://static.bakersfield.com/smedia/2009/01/09/13/432-3FATALTWOCC.embedded.prod_affiliate.25.jpg (http://static.bakersfield.com/smedia/2009/01/09/13/53-3FATALTWOCC.standalone.prod_affiliate.25.jpg)
Photos by Casey Christie / The Californian
Kern County Fire Department and CHP responded to a three fatal two-vehicle accident Friday morning on Houghton Road near Wible Road.
A fiery collision between two pickups killed 27-year-old Misty Gibbs of Lamont, her 42-year-old husband, who officials have not identified, and their soon-to-be-born child, officials said. Andrew Leonicio Marroquin, a 21-year-old man from Arvin, was also killed.
It happened at about 11:30 a.m. at Houghton and Wible roads when a Chevy pickup driven by Gibbs' husband barreled through the intersection at about 65 mph, according to CHP.
The pickup ended up airborne and flew into the oncoming lane, smashing into a Nissan pickup coming the opposite way. The Chevy caught fire.
Sgt. Patti Mackey said Gibbs' husband was driving and was likely rushing to the hospital because she was in labor. An employer of Gibbs told CHP investigators the husband picked her up to take her to the hospital, Mackey said.
The drivers of both vehicles were killed immediately. Officer Joshua Hatfield spotted Gibbs on fire in the Chevy when he arrived on the scene and pulled her out of the truck, but she died as well and may have already been dead when Hatfield arrived at the scene, officials said.
Gibbs' husband and Marroquin were burned beyond recognition, according to the coroner's office.
Hatfield suffered injuries while pulling the woman from the truck but they weren't believed to be serious.
posted by kywls on Jan 9, 2009 at 09:14 PM
Most people only see the dark and mean spirited side of our police and highway patrol officers, but this amazing act of self sacrifice and attempted rescue proves that there are still true heroes in our law enforcers. I cannot express my gratitude enough just knowing that there are men of this magnitude watching out for us in our daily routine. I was stopped for speeding on 178 near the portion of freeway that enters Lake Isabella not long ago and was pretty miffed by the fine but later seeing the body of a man that crashed the next day near the same location made me thankful to be an American and knowing that our law enforcers are there for our good. Great thanks to all the men of California Highway Patrol.Ah, another satisfied customer.
The quote from kywls was a comment from a reader, and posted at the bottom of the original news story.
Hopefully Officer Hatfield recovers quickly. It's just tragic that this could have been avoided by either a) calling an ambulance initially, or b) driving in a safe and responsible manner.
Another story about the wreck reports that the 21 year old sole occupant of the second truck was unrestrained, leading to his ejection and death. Just a sad one all around.