2 Hurt After SUV Crashes Into Apartment Building.

Date: 06/09/2012
Time: Around 11:30 A.M.
Location: San Diego, California
Vehicle(s) Involved: Kia Spectra

By 10News

"SAN DIEGO -- Two people were injured and two others were displaced on Saturday after a vehicle crashed into a North Park apartment building, according to San Diego police and fire officials.
The incident occurred at about 11:26 a.m. at a building in the Canyonwood Apartments in the 1800 block of Upas Street.
The incident occurred at about 11:26 a.m. at a building in the Canyonwood Apartments in the 1800 block of Upas Street.
A man in his 70s was driving a Kia SUV on Upas Street when the SUV accidentally went through a wood fence. The SUV went down a 50-foot embankment before it rolled over and crashed into the apartment building.
"I thought that huge earthquake had happened and then I went into my living room... I went into my bedroom and saw a car up against the window," said neighbor Jim Chatham.
A witness said he was driving behind the SUV before the crash occurred. He said it was going slowly before it came to a stop and then flew off the hill.
"They were going really slow," said witness Rich Rogalski. "I happened to notice a handicap sticker on their license plate." He added, "I'm sitting here making a right-hand turn on this driveway and they flew... They sped up and flew right off this street." It is unclear what exactly caused the crash. The driver and his female passenger – who was in her 60s – were extricated from the wreckage and were both taken to a local hospital. The passenger suffered back pain, and the driver suffered a major head injury and a severe injury to his hand. Eight adults were initially evacuated from 12 of the building's units and a building engineer had been called in, according to a San Diego Fire-Rescue Department dispatcher. Most of the residents were allowed to return to their homes, however two remained displaced, the dispatcher said. Two units were damaged and deemed uninhabitable until further inspection. Two others had their gas turned off, Battrick said. It took rescue crews several hours to remove the SUV. They said that process is sometimes risky. "Since there is structural compromise into the building, removing that vehicle might be the only thing that's actually securing that," said San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Capt. Eugene Scott. The San Diego police Traffic Division is investigating the crash."

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Off-Duty SDPD Officer Among 2 Killed In I-15 Crash.

Date: 10/01/2011
Time: Around 3:05 A.M.
Location: San Diego, California
Vehicle(s) Involved: Mazda 6, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Chevy Silverado 1500, Kia Spectra

By 10News.Com

"SAN DIEGO -- An off-duty San Diego police officer was one of two people killed in a series of crashes involving several vehicles on a San Diego freeway on Saturday, authorities said.
Officer (Name), 34, was traveling south on Interstate 15 in a 2011 Mazda 6 about 3:05 a.m. when he crashed into 1992 Honda Accord which was stopped for an unknown reason south of Mira Mesa Boulevard, according to police and the California Highway Patrol. Both vehicles were heavily damaged.
Moments later, a 1998 BMW sideswiped the Honda, according to CHP Officer Art Athans. Its driver was not injured.
Two additional vehicles approached the crash and collided shortly after, Athans said. The two drivers sustained minor injuries and were taken to a hospital.The off-duty police officer then got out of his vehicle and ran across two lanes to render aid to the driver involved in the first crash and requested medical assistance, Athans said. He was struck by a 2010 Toyota Corolla, driven by an off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer, as he then attempted to run to the shoulder, Athans said.Both Prokop and the driver of the Honda, a 21-year-old Palmdale woman whose name was not immediately released, were pronounced dead at the scene by emergency personnel, according to police and the CHP.Southbound Interstate 15 was closed for several hours following the crash, Athans said. All lanes were reopened by 12:30 p.m.The California Highway Patrol continued to investigate the crash, but said no arrests were made for alcohol or drugs and all parties involved wore seatbelts.Prokop was a 5-year veteran of the San Diego Police Department, police said. He had been assigned to the Central Division since July 2007.Prokop was the sixth San Diego police officer to die in the past year, according to the San Diego Police Officers Association. He is survived by his wife, two young children and parents."Another citizen soldier has made the ultimate sacrifice doing what he did best, serving his community," said Brian R. Marvel, SDPOA president. "His life gave meaning to the pledge every officer and service member takes to protect and serve his fellow man."The San Diego Police Officers Association has established a trust fund for the Prokop's family.Donations can be mailed to:
Officer Jason Prokop Family Trust
c/o San Diego Police Officers Association
8388 Vickers Street
San Diego, CA 92111
Checks can be made payable to the San Diego Police Officers Association (SDPOA). Please write "Officer Jason Prokop" in the memo line. Any donations (100 percent) will go directly to the family.You can also make a donation through the SDPOA's website."

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