“Rick did an excellent job,” trying to revive Charles as well as dealing with staff and students following the tragedy.“...I’ve got to go see my kids and give them a hug,” the unidentified teacher added as he left the site of the accident.There were “A lot of people walking around the area,” and children in the playground at the time of the collision, said SPPD Sgt. Joey de los Reyes.SPPD Motorcycle Officer Dan Potter located the Dodge Ram pickup truck on Hobbs Circle as he searched the area for a vehicle matching the description given by witnesses.“Officer Potter did an excellent job,” locating the pickup, which Sgt. de los Reyes said showed damage consistent with the crash when found parked about a half-mile from the scene.Chief MacKinnon said that although witnesses had not said a third person was in the vehicle, the Dodge Ram “is a four-door with tinted windows in the back...we’re still investigating that person who will probably be arrested as well as an accessory after the fact and for interfering with an investigation.” The vehicle, he added, was found “In the general neighborhood but not at the house,” of any of those involved.Investigators believe that alcohol and/or drugs is a “Contributing factor, but we still have to investigate that further...part of the investigation” in such an incident is a compelled blood test, which Chief MacKinnon said was performed Wednesday.The SPPD is being assisted in the investigation by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, which sent out a specialized team to photograph the entire crime scene with laser GPS technology.“It’s a very accurate method,” to “draw a very accurate crime scene” derived from data processed by a computer.Villanueva had been released from jail “only two weeks ago...he had originally been arrested by us for narcotics charges and while in jail had a weapons charge,” that occurred during his incarceration, said Chief MacKinnon. “He re-violated in December,” and was again jailed until recent weeks.Glen City School, noted Chief MacKinnon, had an abbreviated schedule Wednesday: “Roughly, this occurred at the time of the day that normally classes would be getting out...Wednesday was an early dismissal, otherwise there could easily have been 30 to 40 kids in the area,” where and when the pickup struck Charles.Public safety personnel who responded to the scene were greatly affected: “Officers at the scene that were dealing with this are struggling, it was traumatic,” especially for those that Chief MacKinnon said “have kids that age...it’s very difficult for the whole community.”
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(Left photo) Left, Senior Deputy Rick Godfrey, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and right, Santa Paula Police Sergeant Troyce Reynolds discuss the scene where Charles Goodrich, age 2, was struck by a truck and killed Wednesday afternoon. The Sheriff’s Department was called in to assist the Santa Paula Police Department in using state of the art digital equipment to map the scene. (Right photo) Santa Paula Police Detective Dan Kiernan photographs where the truck, that hit and killed Charles Goodrich, struck the curb. Skid marks were clearly visible along the sidewalk and along West Main Street by Glen City School. Two men in the truck, Albert Garcia, age 31 and Robert Villanueva, age 25 fled the scene and were later arrested. (Photos by Debbie Johnson) |
2 Year-old hit by truck, dies from injuries
May 16, 2008
Santa Paula Police have arrested two men and are weighing charges against a woman in the death of Charles Goodrich, age 2
Santa Paula News
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula TimesSanta Paula Police have arrested two men and are weighing charges against a woman in the death of a 2-year-old boy killed Wednesday when he was struck by a pickup truck that jumped a sidewalk and crashed into the red wagon he was riding in pulled by his mother.Although the silver Dodge Ram sped away, the two men were detained after a SPPD Motorcycle Officer spied the vehicle in a residential neighborhood not far from the crash.Charles Goodrich died shortly after the 2:12 p.m. accident that occurred just east of the Glen City School parking lot on West Main Street east of Steckel Drive.Robert Villanueva, 25, of Santa Paula, was booked into jail on suspicion of hit-and-run causing death, vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and violation of parole.Albert Garcia, 31, of Santa Paula, was booked on suspicion of hit-and-run causing death and vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.SPPD Chief Steve MacKinnon said there are “indications” that driving under the influence by Villanueva, who was at the wheel of Garcia’s pickup, contributed to the crash.According to a Glen City teacher who asked not to be identified, the sound of screeching tires was heard just before the truck jumped the sidewalk and hit the red plastic wagon the boy was riding in.The pickup missed a utility pole before re-entering West Main Street where the teacher said it careened into the westbound lane before spinning out in roadside dirt and brush before coming to a stop.“It did 360 degrees,” said the teacher, who like others at the scene was visibly upset. “They looked back...and then stood up on the accelerator” and sped off at a high rate of speed.Skid marks were visible where the truck jumped the sidewalk and struck the wagon - in an area adjacent to the playground - and re-entered Main Street...the damaged red wagon, still holding Charles’ mother’s purse, leaned against chain link fencing near a woman’s woven sunhat and other items scattered on the ground.Charles’ mother and the infant she was holding were not injured.Notified of the crash by school personnel, Glen City Principal Rick Cadman rushed to the scene and started CPR on the boy until Santa Paula Fire EMTs and ambulance paramedics arrived on scene.“She was very stoic,” the unidentified teacher said of Charles’ mother. “...she called her husband on her cell phone” and after he arrived, “they just kept hugging and hugging each other,” as the boy was treated at the scene.Efforts to save Charles’ life continued as he was transported to Santa Paula Hospital but he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
