Families sue city, police over two deaths in California drunk driving crash

By Jim Greene

Published on December 22, 2005

Eloy Jimenez and Efrain Sanchez were killed and four others severely injured May 23 in a head-on car crash with a vehicle driven by Porterville Police Officer Michael Zamora, Jr., who also died in the incident. The survivors have also filed claims.

The claims, a preparatory step in filing a civil suit against the city, accuse Zamora of negligent, careless, and reckless operation of a vehicle and the police department of negligence and recklessness in hiring and training of officers. Zamora was with the department for eight months. His blood alcohol level was 0.16, twice the California legal limit.

According to a California Highway Patrol accident report, Zamora crossed the center line in his pickup truck and hit a van carrying the six victims. Fatigue was also mentioned as a possible contributory factor; Zamora had just finished a 12-hour duty shift. An off-duty CHP officer who noticed Zamora's erratic driving was following him at the time and had phoned the CHP to report the situation.

The claims ask compensation for funeral and burial expenses, past and future medical expenses, and emotional damages. Two of the victims are still hospitalized, on in a coma, and the other receiving physical therapy for partial paralysis.

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