header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
July 6
1850 - Henry Mayo Newhall arrives in California [story]


The trucker accused of killing two women and four young children when his big rig hit a minivan two years ago showed no signs of weaving lanes, swerving or driving in a “serpentine manner” on the freeway before the crash, an investigator said in court Thursday.

He wasn’t driving erratically, talking on a cellphone or playing with the radio, according to answers given by the specially trained California Highway Patrol investigator under cross examination at the vehicular manslaughter trial of Richard Lopez in San Fernando Superior Court.

“He wasn’t doing anything to make him inattentive,” CHP investigator Joseph Machado testified after agreeing to a checklist of safe driving indicators suggested by the defense lawyer.

Lopez is charged with six misdemeanor counts of vehicular manslaughter for allegedly having run into the back of a minivan with his Freightliner truck at 3:37 a.m. on June 28, 2016, in the southbound lanes of Interstate 5, just south of Gorman School Road.

The two women who died inside the burning minivan were Connie Wu Li and Flora Kuang, both 33. The children killed in the same vehicle were Jayden Li, 5; Lucas Li, 3; Sky Ng, 4; and Venus Ng, 2.

“Did you ever notice him speeding?” defense attorney Ben Mironer asked Thursday.

Machado said no.

“Did he maintain a safe speed throughout the (dash cam) video?”

Machado said yes.

Lopez is charged with six misdemeanor counts of vehicular manslaughter for allegedly having run into the back of a minivan with his Freightliner truck at 3:37 a.m. on June 28, 2016, in the southbound lanes of Interstate 5, just south of Gorman School Road.

The two women who died inside the burning minivan were Connie Wu Li and Flora Kuang, both 33. The children killed in the same vehicle were Jayden Li, 5; Lucas Li, 3; Sky Ng, 4; and Venus Ng, 2.

“Did you ever notice him speeding?” defense attorney Ben Mironer asked Thursday.

Machado said no.

“Did he maintain a safe speed throughout the (dash cam) video?”

Machado said yes.

“Did he maintain a safe speed throughout the (dash cam) video?”

Machado said yes.

“Did he have his seat belt on?”

Machado answered in the affirmative.

“Did you ever see him distracted?”

Machado said no.

“He was never on the phone. He never switched radio stations,” Mironer said, to which Machado agreed.

“He was driving pretty straight,” the CHP investigator said. “Aside from the one time he went over the rumble strip.”

“He never seemed to doze. One time, his eyes closed,” he added, referring to 30 minutes of dash cam recording of Lopez’s driving, which was played for the jury Wednesday.

Mironer asked him: “But he didn’t fall asleep, right?”

“Aside from his chin dropping there wasn’t dozing,” Machado said.

“There was a lot of evidence of safe driving seen throughout the entire video, right?”

“Right,” Machado said.

Machado, an investigator with the CHP’s specialized accident reconstruction team, known as the Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team, testified earlier that he watched the video of Lopez driving more than 100 times.

The court learned Friday that there were two traffic collisions: an initial crash involving a BMW that rear-ended the minivan, a 2016 Toyota Sienna, and a second crash, in which Lopez is accused of rear-ending the same minivan with the big rig he was driving.

Mironer began his cross-examination Thursday by asking Machado about damage to the minivan caused by the BMW.

“Is it reasonable to conclude that the first collision (with the BMW) is what caused the filler neck to separate on the minivan?” Mironer asked.

The filler neck is a tube that connects the fuel filler inlet on a vehicle to the rubber hose attached to its gas tank.

Deputy District Attorney Jamie Castro objected to the line of questioning, prompting Judge Sherilyn Garnett to talk to both lawyers outside the courtroom, away from the jury for about 10 minutes.

When they returned to court, Garnett allowed the question.

“Based on your reconstruction investigation, is it reasonably possible the BMW caused the filler neck damage?” Mironer said.

Machado said: “Thinking about the difference in speeds, about 20 to 30 miles per hour, it’s the same as a stopped car being hit. I don’t think it’s consistent.”

It was Mironer’s assertion that a damaged filler neck could have caused the vehicle fire.

“The source of the fire I left up to the arson investigators,” Machado told the court.

The trial, finishing its third week, is scheduled to continue Friday afternoon and continue into next week.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Friday, Jul 5, 2024
Santa Clarita to Begin Annual Road Rehab
The city of Santa Clarita will soon begin construction work on the annual 2024 -2025 Road Rehab Program, which uses slurry seal and overlay road treatments to improve city roadways.
Friday, Jul 5, 2024
SCV Fourth of July Parade Trophy Winners
The Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July Parade Committee has announced the trophy award winners for the 2024 SCV Fourth of July Parade.
Friday, Jul 5, 2024
SCOTUS Restores Local Authority to Enforce Camping Regulations
The United States Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, recently issued a ruling that will increase the city of Santa Clarita's authority to enforce public camping ordinances that dictate where homeless people can camp and sleep.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
Registration for the city of Santa Clarita Newhall and Canyon Country Community Centers After School Programs will begin on Tuesday, July 16 at 10 a.m.
July 16: Registration Starts for After School Community Center Programs
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a business meeting Wednesday, July 10, beginning at 4 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 4 p.m.
July 10: COC Board to Hold Business Meeting
The Santa Clarita Arts Commission will hold its regular meeting Thursday, July 11, at 6 p.m., in City Hall's Council Chambers
July 11: Arts Commission to Review 2025 Work Plan
1850 - Henry Mayo Newhall arrives in California [story]
The monthly meeting of the Santa Clarita Artists Association on Monday, Aug. 19 will feature an artist demonstration by Derek Harrison. He will be conducting a portrait painting using a live model.
Aug. 19: SCAA Features Artist Demo by Derek Harrison
Burrtec Waste is hosting a free document shredding and textile drop-off event for city of Santa Clarita residents only on Saturday, Aug. 10 from 9 a.m. through noon at the Via Princessa Metrolink Station, 19201 Via Princessa, Santa Clarita, CA 91321.
Aug. 10: Santa Clarita Document Shredding, Textile Drop-off Event
The city of Santa Clarita will soon begin construction work on the annual 2024 -2025 Road Rehab Program, which uses slurry seal and overlay road treatments to improve city roadways.
Santa Clarita to Begin Annual Road Rehab
The United States Youth Volleyball League (USYVL) registration for the 2024 fall program in the Santa Clarita Valley is now open.
Youth Volleyball Registration in SCV Now Open
The Valencia Library, 23743 West Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita, CA 91355 will host Craig Newton for an interactive musical program, Wednesday, July 10 at 4 p.m. and another program at 4:30 p.m.
July 10: Craig Newton’s Interactive Musical Program
Patti Negri, renowned for her psychic abilities, will host “Hot Summer Seance,” at the MAIN, 24266 Main Street., Newhall, CA 91321 Friday, Aug. 2 from 8-10 p.m.
Aug. 2: ‘Hot Summer Séance’ with Patti Negri at The MAIN
The Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July Parade Committee has announced the trophy award winners for the 2024 SCV Fourth of July Parade.
SCV Fourth of July Parade Trophy Winners
The United States Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, recently issued a ruling that will increase the city of Santa Clarita's authority to enforce public camping ordinances that dictate where homeless people can camp and sleep.
SCOTUS Restores Local Authority to Enforce Camping Regulations
A night of nothing but military-related stories in music with a dash of micro-fiction/prose poetry by Robert Morgan Fisher will be at the MAIN, 24266 Main Street., Newhall, CA 91321 Thursday, Aug. 1 from 8-10 p.m.
Aug. 1: A Night of Narrative Jokin’ Folkin’ Funny Story Songs at The MAIN
With wildfire smoke and reduced air quality affecting many California communities, the California Department of Public Health is urging Californians to take steps to protect themselves from air pollutants.
CDPH Urges Californians to Avoid Wildfire Smoke
The Los Angeles County Health Officer has issued an update for the excessive heat warning and advisory as high temperatures have been forecast for Los Angeles County.
Excessive Heat Warning, Advisory Updated by County Health
Visit the Canyon Country Jo Anne Darcy Library, 18601 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351 on Tuesday, July 9 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. to create beautiful artwork from melting old crayons.
July 9: Crayon Melting at Canyon Country Library
The Sierra Hillbillies Square and Round Dance Club is hosting and Black and White Masquerade square dance 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, July 7.
July 7: Sierra Hillbillies Host ‘Masquerade’ Square Dance
Growing up in the 1980s, I have many fond memories of spending time with friends at the Skate-N-Place on Soledad Canyon Road.
Cameron Smyth | The Rink is Rolling Along
1914 - Rev. Wolcott H. Evans, the future "pastor of the disaster," named pastor of Newhall's First Presbyterian Church [story]
church
The Canyon Theatre Guild will present Santa Clarita Regional Theatre's production of "Disney's The Little Mermaid" at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at College of the Canyons.
July 20-Aug. 11: ‘Disney’s The Little Mermaid’ at Performing Arts Center
The 92nd annual Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July Parade attracted thousands to the streets of Old Town Newhall to cheer more than 100 parade entries representing politicians, scout troops, businesses, nonprofits, fraternal organizations and others.
SCV Parade Marches Through Old Town Newhall
The Santa Clarita City Council is scheduled to discuss the transfer of William S. Hart Park to Los Angeles County at the Council's regular meeting Tuesday, July 9, at 6 p.m.
City to Discuss Hart Park Transfer from L.A. County
"Shrek Jr. The Musical," presented by Canyon Theatre Guild’s STARS program, will perform weekends from July 6 to July 14.
‘Shrek Jr. The Musical’ Coming to Canyon Theatre Guild
SCVNews.com