The Coble Kids Story скачать в хорошем качестве

The Coble Kids Story

NEWPORT BEACH - An Apple Valley man who crashed into the back of a minivan in 2007, killing three young siblings from Ladera Ranch, was sentenced to 364 days in jail and five years of probation this morning at Harbor Justice Center. Jorge Miguel Romero, 38, was convicted of vehicular manslaughter on Aug. 22, 2008, after he pleaded no contest to three misdemeanor counts for the May 4, 2007, crash that killed 5-year-old Kyle, 4-year-old Emma and 2-year-old Katie Coble. Romero's attorney, Andrew Roth, told Superior Court Judge Craig E. Robison that while his client accepted responsibility for smashing into the family's minivan in his semi, Caltrans was also to blame for failing to make improvements to a high-traffic off-ramp. Roth cited ignored Caltrans reports from 1998 and 2000 that called for an additional lane at the Oso Parkway off-ramp from the I-5 freeway, because traffic was backing up on the freeway for a half-mile before the exit. Before pronouncing the sentence, Robison noted that most misdemeanor manslaughter cases he's heard do not result in jail time. "The reason this is different is Mr. Romero is a professional driver," Robison said. If regulations governing pilots, captains and drivers aren't enforced, Robison said, "they really are just words on paper." Romero had driven the same stretch of highway that week and should have been aware of trouble spots, Robison said. Robison also concluded that Romero was on the phone at the time, and that he likely had been working too many hours in the days before the crash, in violation of the law. Lori Coble was driving the children and their grandmother back home after a day at the Irvine Spectrum, where the family was celebrating Kyle's birthday with a ride on the Ferris wheel. She slowed her minivan down as they were exiting the I-5 freeway at Oso Parkway when Romero crashed his semi into the van's rear, through the back seat where the children were sitting. Kyle, Emma and Katie, who were all sitting in restraining seats, died as a result of the crash. The deaths of the three siblings sparked an outpouring of support for the parents from their Ladera Ranch community, and moved the parents to push for changes in the trucking industry. Chris and Lori Coble and members of their family attended the sentencing hearing. Lori Coble declined to comment afterward. The Cobles are suing Romero, his former employer, other involved shipping companies, the Department of Motor Vehicles, Caltrans and the state of California. Roth praised the Cobles for not demanding a harsh sentence, lauding "their faith, their strength, their humanity," and their efforts to reform the trucking industry. Assistant District Attorney Jaime Coulter, who prosecuted the case, said he was satisfied with the sentence. "Our goal from the beginning was to hold Mr. Romero accountable and we believe that's been done today," Coulter said. A California Highway Patrol investigation into the crash also revealed that Romero had fabricated his driving log on May 1, 2 and 3. When asked why a driver would fabricate driving logs, Romero told a CHP officer that driving time laws restricted drivers from working. When asked if he had ever provided false information in a log, Romero told the officer that "maybe he did," according to the report. "Most of the time, I do whatever the company tells me," Romero told the CHP. Judge Robison likened the argument to that of Lt. William Calley after the My Lai massacre, dismissing it. Romero has lost his commercial driver's license, and is struggling to provide for his son and daughter, his lawyer said after the hearing. Romero may not drive commercial vehicles during his probation