The Antelope Valley Times

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Patrol car drifts into wrong lane, causes collision

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ANTELOPE VALLEY – A sheriff’s patrol car drifted into the wrong lane and collided with a sport utility vehicle, injuring the deputy behind the wheel, according to a California Highway Patrol report.

The incident happened around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday on Avenue O near 152nd Street East.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy R. Huff of Lancaster was driving a marked black and white 2007 Ford Crown Victoria eastbound on Avenue O, at approximately 50 miles per hour, approaching 152nd Street East, the report states.

Deputy Huff allowed the patrol vehicle to drift left into the westbound lane towards a 2001 Jeep Cherokee being driven by 54-year-old Cutberto Pineda of Palmdale, the CHP report states.

Pineda veered right, but was unable to avoid being hit by deputy Huff, and the left front of the patrol vehicle sideswiped the left rear of the SUV, the CHP report states.

The collision hurt deputy Huff, who was transported to Antelope Valley Hospital with minor injuries.

Pineda and his passenger, 52-year-old Dioselina Pineda, were not injured in the collision.

No arrests were made, and the crash remains under investigation.

UPDATED 10/17/2012: The collision actually happened at 3:30 a.m., not 3:30 p.m. The story has been corrected and we regret the error.

Crash location.

 

Filed Under: Lancaster

59 comments for "Patrol car drifts into wrong lane, causes collision"

    • Chris, I’m glad your parents are ok, Johnny text me to tell me what happened, I’m just happy that it wasn’t anything serious, although I know they must be still a little shaken up. Hope to see you guys soon.

      P.s Don’t listen to any of the negative comments here, all that matters is that your parents weren’t seriously injured and that they are ok.. XOXO

    • You know what my parents got hit at 3:30 a.m.
      they are injured but they are doing well right now
      not going to say more because people says different stories
      nosy people :)

  2. I am sure that this Deputy was on the phone, texting, or on the computer they have. Drifting into come coming traffic, I see it as negligence on the Deputy’s part, obviously. “no arrest were made!” that is so funny!! Who would they arrest, their own since he was at fault? Not likely, since drugs/alcohol was not a factor, give him a blood test just to be sure and check his phone records! Unless he was checking on their computer for a current call, he should be suspended for a few days, until all this is cleared. Like others posted he could have seriously injured those other people, and I am sure this all could have been preventable had the Deputy been following the “rules of the road”, aka Law!!

    • Thats what they get paid to do. They have computers in there cars sovthey can do there job just like teachers use book and doctors use medical equipment. Maybe you should go back to school and learn on the different jobs and there equipment. Well mayb the government can send you to go to school.

  4. Calm down people. Nobody was seriously injured. The Sheriffs Dept will pay for damages to the families vehicle and give them a check for their troubles . The Deputy should have been more careful but people must realize that Deputies must use a computer while driving. It is how they get their calls. The Deputy will face greater consequences than you or I would…

    • That deputy was going 50 mph, he could have killed that poor couple!

      While no physical injuries are mentioned, the Pinedas will likely have years of anguish as a result of this deputy actions. I was rear ended a while ago on the highway, and I actually saw the car coming towards me in my rear view mirror as I was stopped in traffic and helpless to move out of the way. The car did manage to break it at the last minute, but I was still hit. I felt like I was having a heart attack and I couldn’t even speak or open my car door for minutes after.

      When I think about it, even now, my palms get sweaty and my throat dries up. This is the trauma of being in a car wreck.

      Imagine seeing a cop car barreling towards you on a deserted stretch of road, and you swerve to avoid it and it still rams into you! What the Pinedas is feeling is more than likely 10 times worse that what I felt during my fender bender. And they are much older than me to boot.

      So yes, these people should hold the sheriffs accountable for suffering, anguish, mental stress and perhaps injuries that could crop up at a later date relating to the accident.

      This deputy should be taken off the road pronto!

      • OMG, I’ve been in a couple of traffic accidents, and was injured in one. Neither one was a big deal though. I was more concerned about my car than anything. Talk about thin skin.

      • Kaytie… give it a rest… So are you advocating that everyone who has been at fault in an accident lose their license? I have been in a car crash, a pretty severe one and im just fine, no counseling needed. Each person is different but most people have experienced far worse in life and come out just fine. The Deputy will be held accountable and the family compensated. I assume you never ran a stop sign on accident or locked up your brakes because you didnt see the people in front o you stopping… We have all made mistakes and are lucky nobody got hurt. And going 50mph on that stretch of road is very slow… he wasnt flying along…

        • Amen. Thank God most that people (especially cops and military) can deal with such minor issues without need for psychotherapy, etc. They protect the weak….like some posters here.

          • Didn’t you mean weak-minded, Hector? It’s a wonder some of these mouth breathers can get out of bed in the morning.

          • Yes….weak in mind, and weak in mental stability. The type who crumble in times of stress and rely on others who are strong.

    • I try to see it from both sides of the fence before making my statement. Clearly from either side you stand on, we all know that sh#% happens. It would really be ignorant to say you’ve never been on both sides of it before. Maybe never been involved in an accident due to this nature of events but I’m sure made a bad judgements call or mistake while being behind the wheel. With that said, you can bet your sweet as# if the tables were turned and you hit a squad car, there’s gonna be a citation for the driver at fault. Turning the tables back to officer at fault, he ain’t gonna get anything more then a slap on the wrist, a brief talking to by the man in charge, and a few chuckles and jokes made by his Co-workers. And that’s just cuz its part of there protocol and is required simply to show something on paper stating he was at fault and his actions had been evaluated and cleared to return to work. Kinda like when your dad would take you into the bedroom alone to have a talk to you about you showing up back to the house past your curfew while you where out with your girlfriend. While your mom was In the living room trying to listen for the punishment part. Pops would be smiling ear to ear but raising his voice loud enough so your mom could hear him yelling. Little did she know that slapping sound wasn’t coming from your butt getting whooped, it was pops high five’n you for getting your first piece of tail. Yet made his point not to let this happen again or its gonna be real next time. Moms happy thinking you got punished. And your butts happy for not gettin whooped yet understands what’s gonna happen if h do it again…

  5. THE DONUT DID IT!! LoL
    MAYBE HE WAS WIPING SUGAR OFF HIS UNIFORM SHIRT, WHO KNOWS! MAYBE HE WAS GETTING SLEEPY, LOTS OF PEOPLE FEEL THE NEED TO TAKE A NAP AT THAT TIME!
    BUT ALL KIDDING ASIDE, ALL INVOLVED ARE VERY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. THAT STRECTCH OF ROAD HAS CLAIMED SO MANY LIVES IN THE PAST FEW YEARS!
    THE LAST ONE IF MY RECOLECTION DOESNT FAIL ME WAS A YOUNG MAN!
    AVENUE 0 AND PALMDALE BLVD BETWEEN 110TH AND 170TH EAST, SHOULD BE KNOWN AS DEATHS’ DARK ALLEYS.

  6. It is nice to see that so many people just jump to conclusions without noing anything. Why not wait for the investigation to conclude before throwing out your assumptions. As for cops using their cell phones, maybe you should read the vehicle code section and learn that they are exempt when using it in the course of their duties. Shows how ignorant people can be. They don’t even understand the laws they are supposed to be following.

    • Quote: “As for cops using their cell phones, maybe you should read the vehicle code section and learn that they are exempt when using it in the course of their duties”

      Just because they are exempt does not make it safe, especially since they are also exempt from speeding violations and other dangerous driving practices.

      I am certain the investigation will clear the officer from any wrong doing, thus preventing a lawsuit.

      The poor Pineda family.

      • could you make your beef against cops and law-abiding people any more obvious?

        This ranks right up there with your idiotic comment about the Carls Jr. robbery being the “fault” of the restaurant for “not hiring security”.

        So far you have profiled yourself as someone who hates cops and sympathizes with thugs!

        • Maybe I am biased. The restaurant in Palmdale where my daughter works has been held-up twice in the last six weeks.Both times the “Thugs” (that is an appropriate word) were armed.
          She is desperately looking for other employment as are many of her co-workers.

          I am not trying to be unreasonable, but we as a community cannot just allow these crimes to become “commonplace”

          But that is exactly what we are doing, if no one is killed or injured we just sit back and argue over the race of the perpetrators.

          My bank in Palmdale doesn’t even have a security guard.

          Imagine that.

          • And it’s too bad that law abiding citizens can’t carry concealed guns to protect themselves from these a-holes. Wouldn’t it be great if everybody behind the counter (including your daughter) was armed and was able to shoot and kill these thugs before they could prey on others?? It’ll never happen, but it would be beautiful.

          • Your previous comments on another story about businesses having private security makes sense now. From your perspective I can see where it would be an important detail. I would say that in certain areas and at certain times it should be the responsibility of the business to provide such a service. Banks in most areas do now have this.. I would just hope that it doesn’t have to come to requiring security in all fast food restaurants.

      • Really? “The poor Pineda family”???

        The Pinedas were uninjured. The deputy admitted fault. The Pineda’s car will be fully repaired by the county’s insurance. In fact, since the county is apparently self-insured, the repair won’t even get reported to ChoicePoint and won’t even show up on CarFax or similar reports.

        I’m on the fence along with others here. Cops have to use phones, radios and computers during their course of duty. But they also get a superior attitude that they can do whatever the hell they want (while driving and otherwise), mostly with impunity. Whatever the truth, it probably won’t come out in the investigation.

  7. The Pineda Family should be looking for an attorney.

    Like most us us in the A.V. I have also noticed the reckless driving behavior of our local law enforcement.
    This family should sue the L.A.P.D. and receive the compensation they are entitled to, this women could have lost her life.

    We should the hold our officers accountable for their driving skills (or lack of) the same way they hold us accountable for ours.

    • @Terry, you obviously have no clue what you’re talking about. “Sue LAPD!” Huh? “Poor Pineda family!” What did I miss? The article says they WERE NOT INJURED! Sure, the sheriff’s insurance should definitely pay for the repair of their car, a few thousand $ for their trouble and any expenses they incurred, but other than that, what else do they deserve??? Sue the sheriff for what?? That’s taxpayer money you idiot! Wake up people. The cops are humans who screw up occasionally. If urge you to go on a ride along, and you will see they have much more going on in that car than you think. They are constantly reading a computer screen telling them a variety of things. As stated by others, they are allowed by the vehicle code to use their phones. If its not business related, then yes, they should set and example by pulling over. Terry, first educate yourself on who our local police are, then stop contributing to the freeloader mentality!

      • Referring to the Sheriff’s Department as the Los Angeles Police Department is very telling about Terry. How can someone not know that police officers from the City of Los Angeles don’t patrol the highways of the Antelope Valley. He must be a fan of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim…another ridiculous concept.

        • But the Pinedas weren’t injured!!! What are the damages, other than the car and maybe the hassle of getting the car fixed? Why get an attorney? I’m not trying to give you a hard time…just trying to understand.

          • Apparently you have never been through a traumatic car accident. Also having your car repaired is more than a hassle.
            I suspect you must have been sheltered most of your life not to be able realize the great pain this family has been put though.

          • Give me a break. They were in a minor traffic collision. They happen all the time. But I guess that some thin-skinned people would call that traumatic. OK, you’re right…time to lawyer-up and sue the City of L.A…..or is that the County?…Whatever, they’re all the same, right?

          • Why is getting a car fixed MORE than a hassle? Drop it off at the shop, get a loaner, and go about your business. That’s called a hassle.

    • @Terry (and anyone else who objects),
      Until you have taken a ride-along with a LASD deputy and seen what they are required to coordinate during the handling of a call then you are in no position to pass judgment on the situation.
      Between directing supporting deputies to a tactical position, actually finding the location, relaying status back to the dispatcher and possibly contacting on scene witnesses (on their cell phone) every possible form of communication is being used … all while driving to the scene of the incident.
      Where the general public and a deputy differ is in that they have been trained for 3-5 years (40+ hours a day) to multitask, operate a vehicle at the limits of it’s ability and make sound decisions in a high stress situation before they are even allowed to operate a patrol car.

      Most people are lucky if they could even pass the drivers test at the DMV let alone prove capable of doing more than just driving the car. This is obvious by the number of collisions seen on the road where one or both of the people involved made STUPID decisions before and/or during the event.

      The deputy made a mistake and it could cost him his position on LASD. Deputies are held to a higher standard than the general public and with that they are afforded the privilege of doing things that the general public can not, but at the same time when they prove that they are not able to hold that standard they are held accountable.

      “I don’t go to your work and knock the corn dogs out of your hand..” -SNL

      • It may be perfectly legal for the SD to use their cellphones and to drive while working on their computer. However, your argument is condescending and bad PR at best and completely wrong at worse.

        This accident completely negates your argument. The deputy involved in this accident was distracted with something and unable to “multitask, operate a vehicle at the limits of it’s ability and make sound decisions in a high stress situation before they are even allowed to operate a patrol car.”

        Heck, I would even go as far as to say that this deputy could not multitask, operate a vehicle even at the basic limits of it’s ability and make sound decisions in the much lower stressful situation of driving down the street without endangering the public.

        On another note, I wonder how they do all this training you talk about happens “40+ hours a day.” While you may consider deputies supermen, I doubt they can fly around the world and turn the clock backwards in order to add more hours in a day. Must less do this every day for “3-5 years.”

        Now I am not against the Sheriff Department using any possible tool to reduce crime in the Antelope Valley. However, they are not supermen, they are human and capable of being distracted from the task at hand. Multitasking – no matter how much training they have had and no matter how legal it is – still endangers the lives of the public they are sworn to protect.

        • I work (40+ hours a day) I don’t know about you..
          typo obviously ..
          No doubt that the actions of the deputy will be under review.

  9. Im glad it wasnt worse and that no one was killed! We have almost been hit by a police car that was drifting into our lane here on the east side of Palmdale on Ave S between 25th and 30th St. As the police car was coming toward us we could see that the officer was looking down to his right at his seat, maybe looking thru some paperwork I suppose.He didnt even notice he was drifing over. We honked at him and he swerved back into his lane. It was a close one and left us shaking afterwards!

    • Whether its legal for the them or not, the point is that being on a cell phone is distracting and cops especially should set an example to its citizens

      • Maybe it’s safer to keep your eyes on the road instead of looking at what deputies are doing in their patrol cars.

  11. This guy should be ticketed, jailed, and sued. He was probably using his cell phone as I see all cops out here do, as well as run their lights and sirens on just to go on a red light for no specific reason…

    • I love it…Jailed for a traffic infraction. As another reader correctly stated, “they walk among us”.

    • “as well as run their lights and sirens on just to go on a red light for no specific reason…”

      …. seriously? First off, they have to have a call on their computer to do that. But in any case – lets just change it to where they can’t do that at all. Oh wait…. then when YOU need the police and they aren’t there in a jip, skip, and a flash… you throw a hissy fit and start throwing the sue word around. It is easy to critize emergency responders until YOU are the one that actually needs the assistance, then you want a code 3 response and for them to be there within 2 mins.

    • You have LASD confused with AMR who do in fact drive in circles around the BLVD with Light’s and Sirens.

        • And I’m not trying to be a pain in the a$$. Just trying to figure out the thought process. Why take the time to wrongly put an apostrophe on Lights, then not put one on almost the very next word (Sirens).

          • iPad typo.. I think I know why people leave “sent from iPad” in the signature.. It’s not to be pretentious it’s to tell the reader.. ‘fat fingers and auto correct ahead. Read with caution.’