8, Including 5 Kids, Killed By Car Fleeing Cops

[meloneyb21]

This is my worst nightmare. A friend of mine was seriously hurt by a car fleeing police a few years ago and I always thought that there is nothing you can do to avoid something unexpected like this. So tragic that none of the children were in seatbelts.

http://cbs3.com/topstories/police.chase.california.2.1121173.html

Seven people died in the crash when a driver tried to outrun police in the Central Valley town of Dinuba on August 8, 2009.

A fifth child has died after a stolen car fleeing police in California's Central Valley crashed into a pickup, bringing the death toll to eight.

The Dodge Neon that carried the fleeing suspects had been carjacked. When an officer tried to pull the vehicle over for a traffic infraction Saturday afternoon, it led authorities on a chase, according to Dinuba police.

The car ran a stop sign and slammed into a pickup carrying a couple and their five children. No one in the truck was wearing seat belts.

Carlos and Jennifer Salazar are in the hospital with moderate to major injuries. Four of their young children were killed at the scene, and a fifth -- 8-year-old Carlos Eric Salazar -- died at the hospital Sunday.

Authorities have not identified the three dead suspects.

 

[FireDancer]

One of my friends from high school was killed when a car running from the police t-bones him. He wasn't wearing a seat belt which is probably what ultimately killed him. The people in the car with belts lived while those without died. Lesson: wear you seat belt. It may not help but it never hurts.

Sometimes in life you just win the unlucky lottery. When you are just living your life and something like this, or a bridge collapse, or a some other statistically unlikely thing happens there is little you can do. Just remember that every moment may be your last and live accordingly.

 

[LoraJ]

This infuriates me. First the idiots avoiding the cops and second, what pickup truck holds 7 people? I am guessing none since none of those kids were buckled in. Those poor innocent children would probably be alive today if they were belted in and in car seats.

 

[elgerber]

This infuriates me. First the idiots avoiding the cops and second, what pickup truck holds 7 people? I am guessing none since none of those kids were buckled in. Those poor innocent children would probably be alive today if they were belted in and in car seats.

That was exactly what I said when I saw this story yesterday. They were all about blaming the cops on the news, and while yes, the chase ended tragically, seat belts could have prevented these deaths!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Such a waste...

 

[C.Ann]

I wonder how these parents are going to feel - knowing their own stupidity caused the deaths of ALL of their children?

 

[Deb in IA]

This infuriates me. First the idiots avoiding the cops and second, what pickup truck holds 7 people?

I am guessing the children must have been riding in the back cargo area. Why this is still allowed to happen is beyond me.

 

[LoraJ]

I am guessing the children must have been riding in the back cargo area. Why this is still allowed to happen is beyond me.

You're right, this article says they were all in the back. Even the 1 year old. I figured the older ones must have been back there but the younger ones? And the family is blaming the cops???

http://www.ktvu.com/news/20335767/detail.html

 

[chager]

I am guessing the children must have been riding in the back cargo area. Why this is still allowed to happen is beyond me.

That was my thoughts to about the two oldest (7 and 8) I just could not imagine letting a 4,3 and 1 year old sit in the back.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

"Police killed five innocent children," said Mirtala Elizondo, a family relative told the Fresno Bee. "For what? A stolen car. A car is nothing."

Seriously? This family may be in denial, but how can you blame the police when the children were placed in danger by their parents?

Watch - there will be a lawsuit filed in the next few days. Sadly, the family will probably win...

 

[FireDancer]

Seriously? This family may be in denial, but how can you blame the police when the children were placed in danger by their parents?

Watch - there will be a lawsuit filed in the next few days. Sadly, the family will probably win...

The police are placed in a bad situation by a criminal, that is what happened. I'm sure had they known the outcome they would have let the car go, but their crystal ball must have been in the shop. The chain of events were set into motion by a criminal committing a crime, that is where the fault ultimately lies. Kids being un-belted or in the bed of a truck (seriously, how is that a good idea) contributed to it, but what is done is done.

Sometimes the media likes to blame everyone else for the results of someone else's actions. In this case, the person running from the police.

 

[bgirldeb]

Sad, but a blown tire could have killed those kids since they were not properly restrained. Got to be some heavy guilt there.

 

[C.Ann]

The devastating toll left family members stunned and angered.

"Police killed five innocent children," said Mirtala Elizondo, a family relative told the Fresno Bee. "For what? A stolen car. A car is nothing."
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That has to be one of the stupidest comments I have EVER read!! All of those kids in the BACK of a pick-up truck - and the "police" killed 5 innocent children??

No - the parents killed them - by playing Russian roulette with their childrens lives..

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

The police are placed in a bad situation by a criminal, that is what happened. I'm sure had they known the outcome they would have let the car go, but their crystal ball must have been in the shop. The chain of events were set into motion by a criminal committing a crime, that is where the fault ultimately lies. Kids being un-belted or in the bed of a truck (seriously, how is that a good idea) contributed to it, but what is done is done.

Sometimes the media likes to blame everyone else for the results of someone else's actions. In this case, the person running from the police.

I don't disagree, but the people primarily responsible for the safety and well being of their children failed their children completely. Placing blame ANYWHERE besides on those parents is tough for me to swallow. As a PP said, those children could have been killed from something as simple as a blowout. It was a tragedy waiting to happen...

 

[sbell111]

Seriously? This family may be in denial, but how can you blame the police when the children were placed in danger by their parents?

Watch - there will be a lawsuit filed in the next few days. Sadly, the family will probably win...

I bet that they don't.

In California, riding in the bed of a pickup is only legal in the following four situations:

1. if the person is restrained by a federally approved restraint system
2. if it is a farmer owned vehicle used exclusively within farming land or 1 mile of highway between 1 part to another
3. if the vehicle is being driven in a parade at not more than 8 miles per hour
4. emergency situations

According to the Fresno Bee, "The Salazars were on their way to Orosi, where 8-year-old Carlos was to play in a youth football game, friends and relatives said."

 

[EMom]

I wouldn't put a dog in the back of a pickup truck, let alone precious children. These parents have no one to blame but themselves. Those poor babies were projectiles.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

I wouldn't put a dog in the back of a pickup truck, let alone precious children. These parents have no one to blame but themselves. Those poor babies were projectiles.

A. Men.

Leave the poor cops alone. They were doing their job. The parents, however, were NOT doing their job. I wouldn't let a teenage (with my knowledge..we know how teenagers can be ) ride in the back of a pickup LET ALONE A FREAKING 1 YEAR OLD.

 

[shortbun]

Sorry guys, I blame the guy who ran from the cops 1st -then the police 2nd. They(the police) know that are creating a hugely dangerous scenario when they start a chase. Around here, the police are not to chase unless NOT doing so would create a more/equally dangerous event-like gang shooters or bank robbery with weapons. I've talked to police officers about this and most of them feel pretty strongly about NOT chasing a routine traffic stop or even someone they are pretty sure they can find later.

The woman is right. A stolen car is not worth risking lives of innocent drivers.
You guys think she's wrong?

Clearly, the children should not have been riding in the truck bed but a high speed chase for a stolen car? nah

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Wouldn't they have started the high speed chase because the people FLED? Odds are good they didn't know why this person STARTED the high speed chase. If they just let someone speed off when they're trying to even do a routine traffic chase they'd get in HUGE trouble! They don't know WHY they're fleeing. Maybe they killed someone?!

Oh wait. They did.

I blame the people in the stolen vehicle, of course, first. But the parents? I wouldn't go as far as to say they deserved it but they definitely could have prevented deaths.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

...The woman is right. A stolen car is not worth risking lives of innocent drivers.

So what do we do - let car thieves go? Forget about chasing them? Ummm, no...

You guys think she's wrong?...

I think she is a whack-a-doodle...