☛ TS Driver sought: Suspected drag race on 299 results in fatal crash
ARCATA -- The California Highway Patrol was looking Monday night for a newer model silver Mustang with a black top that was reportedly racing another car when a third uninvolved vehicle was clipped, killing
Sgt. Brett Fabbri said the silver Mustang may have collision damage, or may be a witness to the accident. Leaving the scene of a crash is considered a hit-and-run, Fabbri said....
Black top? Or black stripe?
TS Update: ☛ TS Police still looking for driver
The CHP has confirmed that two vehicles were in aAn unplanned drag race at around 4:30 p.m. Monday. A 2004 Pontiac Sunbird and what officials believe is a silver Ford Mustang were racing west at 90 miles per hour or more, when they came upon a 2002 Chevy Tahoe in the No. 2 lane.
One of the racing vehicles struck the Tahoe and caused it to lose control. The Tahoe went down an embankment struck a utility pole and ended up on Boyd Road, which parallels Route 299.
The driver of the Pontiac Sunbird also lost control and went down the embankment and came to rest on its roof. The silver mustang kept going, and hasn't been found, the CHP said.
Killed in the wreck was an 8-year-old girl, who died at the scene. The driver of the Tahoe, 50-year-old Debra Quigley, suffered major injuries and was transported to Mad River Hospital.
The driver of the Pontiac Sunbird is believed by the CHP to be 40-year-old Cheri Marcelli of Willow Creek, who was out of the car when authorities arrived.
Another person in the car was uninjured. The CHP is still gathering evidence to confirm who was driving the car.
The CHP is still attempting to identify the driver of the silver Mustang and has been following up on leads from the public. Anyone with information is asked to call the CHP at 822-5981.
We all swear we've seen that car, but none of us can remember where exactly. It shouldn't be hard to find.
Update:
☛ TS Search continues for other driver in fatal crash
Nicole Quigley, 9, was killed, and her mother, Debra Quigley, seriously injured, when their 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe was clipped by a car speeding at 90 miles per hour or more, according to CHP.
Both Marcelli's 2004 Pontiac Sunbird and the Tahoe drove off an embankment.
According to CHP information, the Tahoe slammed into a utility pole, and stopped moving on Boyd Road, which parallels Route 299. The Sunbird came to rest on its roof.
Humboldt County Deputy Coroner Charles Comer said Debra Quigley suffered injuries to her torso and neck.
Debra Quigley was transported to Mad River Hospital, and later flown to Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford for treatment. Personnel there confirmed Tuesday she had been downgraded from serious to fair condition, and was removed from intensive care.
Fabbri said two other passengers were riding in the Tahoe, including Nicole Quigley's twin sister and a friend. Both of the other passengers sustained minor injures and walked away from the wreck, Fabbri said.
Marcelli was transported to Mad River Hospital with major injuries. Fabbri said investigators have attempted interviews with her.
”We're still working out what her involvement is,” he said, “but she's not being the most cooperative.”
Fabbri said no charges have been filed against Marcelli as it is still too early in the investigation. Fabbri said investigators are now sifting through the tips -- he estimated around 60 -- authorities received from the public Tuesday.
The comments are heartwrenching.
☛ TS New driver identified in fatal crash
☛ TS New driver named in fatal collision
The California Highway Patrol this evening identified a new individual as one of the drivers involved in a suspected illegal street race that killed a 9-year-old girl.
Jason B. Whitmill, 31, has been named the driver of a Pontiac Sunbird involved in the alleged race. A Chevrolet Tahoe also traveling on State Route 299 was clipped by a car speeding at 90 miles per hour or more, according to CHP.
A third person of interest, the driver of a silver Ford Mustang, is still at large.
According to CHP information, Whitmill was arrested the night of the collision for violating his parole. He is being held in the Humboldt County jail. On Wednesday evening, charges had not been filed, but are pending.
Whitmill suffered minor injuries in the wreck, CHP reported.
Cheri Marcelli, who was hospitalized after the crash, was previously named as the Sunbird's driver. Her name was removed from an updated collision report.
☛ ER Parolee named as driver in fatal collision
Word on the street:
At least one silver Mustang with a black stripe has reportedly gone in and received clearance from the CHP as NOT being involved.
***
Related:
09
◼ Whitmill and Flores trial date delayed another month 08/04/2009
◼ Whitmill, Flores take District Attorney's deal 12/05/2009
◼ Jury selection begins in trial of Whitmill, Flores 11/23/2009
◼ Whitmill, Flores trial to proceed 11/10/2009
◼ Motion denied to suppress blood sample in Whitmill case 11/06/2009
◼ Whitmill faces murder charge for alleged role in crash 10/15/2008
◼ Quigley family, friends remember 9-year-old Nicole 10/06/09
◼ Nearly one year ago 10/01/2009
◼ Case surrounding fatal crash on Highway 299 delayed 09/15/2009
◼ Too many delays 9/10/09
◼ Legal maneuvers slow case of men charged in 9-year-old's death 09/01/2009
◼ Whitmill and Flores trial date delayed another month 08/04/2009
◼ Evidence, charges unchanged against Whitmill 07/17/2009
◼ Evidence for second degree murder charge? 06/19/2009
◼ Thinking of the Quigleys 05/29/2009
◼ Remember Nicole 05/08/2009
◼ Looking forward: Quigley family watches and waits as case continues 05/17/2009
◼ Defendants in 299 wreck plead not guilty 03/28/2009
◼ Judge holds Whitmill, Flores to answer for 299 wreck 03/14/2009
◼ Wife refuses to testify against husband at preliminary hearing 03/13/2009
◼ Investigator testifies suspect in fatal crash changed story 03/12/2009
◼ Officer testifies about 299 crash at prelim 03/11/2009
◼ Preliminary hearing over Highway 299 wreck continues 03/10/2009
◼ Superior Court delays hearing in 299 crash case 02/11/2009
◼ Broken system 01/23/2009
08
◼ Hug your children 12/03/2008
◼ Vehicular manslaughter suspect has extensive criminal history 11/13/2008
◼ Whitmill-Flores hearing continued 11/06/2008
◼ Street race case waiting on CHP reports 10/23/2008
◼ Authorities seek Mustang passenger for questioning 10/17/2008
◼ Court document: Flores tried to 'subvert' investigation 10/16/08
◼ Whitmill faces murder charge for alleged role in crash 10/15/2008
◼ Authorities arrest driver of Mustang 10/10/2008
◼ New driver named in fatal collision 10/09/2008
◼ Search continues for other driver in fatal crash 10/08/2008
◼ ER Parolee named as driver in fatal collision
◼ TS New driver identified in fatal crash
◼ TS New driver named in fatal collision
TS Update: ☛ TS Police still looking for driver
◼ TS Driver sought: Suspected drag race on 299 results in fatal crash
Note: there were other articles in the Eureka reporter, but none are available online anymore.
That is a terrible tragedy! How incredibly sad!
ReplyDeleteTestosterone poisoning will be the defense when they finally find the idiots who are to blame, no doubt.
ReplyDeleteThis is not what we would call manslaughter - it's m-u-r-d-e-r.
It is horrible. Yesterday morning a child riding his bike to school in Fortuna was hit by a car at the intersection of 12th and Main. Then the ambulance got hit.
ReplyDeleteI hope the kid is okay. I have not heard anything about it. Only saw it after the fact. It was an upsetting Monday morning in Fortuna.
I hope that kid is ok, too, Carol. And all the other kids who were in this van. My heart goes out to all those parents, and most especially to the parents of the 8 year old. I cannot fathom the depths of the tragedy here.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like someone screeched to a halt at the Guintoli off ramp a ways up from that crash. Maybe the mustang saw what happened in his rearview. There are tiremarks.
ReplyDeleteComments have been taken down on the TS site, original story. What happened?
ReplyDeleteAhh, it is one of those anomalies - they are there - 66 comments on the original story at the moment.
ReplyDelete☛ TS link
Thanks for the tip.
No, wait. That isn't a silver Mustang, it's John McCain's campaign!
ReplyDeleteTime and a place for that, bub, and this ain't it.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely right Rose
ReplyDeleteI hugged my 8 year old extra long and hard tonight.
ReplyDeleteJust turned 9. A twin?
ReplyDeleteNicole's twin Ashley was in my son's class last year. These girls, and their friend, were very sweet and wonderful girls. My son is very sad to say the least. Please send out some prayers to their families.
ReplyDelete