The Antelope Valley Times

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Alleged DUI driver rear-ends school bus in stolen vehicle, passenger killed

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The bus driver was unharmed and no children were aboard the bus during the fatal collision, which occurred around 6:10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, on 40th Street East near Bella Vita Way in Palmdale, authorities said. (Photo by LUIS MEZA)
The bus driver was unharmed and no children were aboard the bus during the fatal collision, which occurred around 6:10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, on 40th Street East near Bella Vita Way in Palmdale, authorities said. (Photo by LUIS MEZA)

PALMDALE – A 20-year-old suspected DUI driver was arrested Tuesday morning after he allegedly rear-ended a school bus at a high rate of speed, causing a collision that killed his passenger, authorities said.

Douglas Fiddament of Pearblossom was booked at the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and murder, due to his causing the death of his passenger while in the commission of a felony, according to Detective Brent Bunch of the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station.

The bus driver was unharmed and no children were aboard the bus during the fatal collision, which occurred around 6:10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, on 40th Street East near Bella Vita Way in Palmdale, Bunch stated.

Fiddament’s passenger, whose name has not yet been released, was pronounced dead at the scene by Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics. (LUIS MEZA)
Fiddament’s male passenger, whose name has not yet been released, was pronounced dead at the scene by Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics. (LUIS MEZA)

“The preliminary facts of this investigation indicate Douglas Fiddament was driving a stolen vehicle (1997 Dodge Ram) and trailer southbound on 40th Street East,” Bunch stated. “A yellow school bus driven by a school bus driver (name withheld) was parked on the west curb line of 40th Street East, just north of the intersection of Bella Vita.”

“The Dodge Ram driven by Mr. Fiddament collided into the rear of the school bus at a high rate of speed,” Bunch continued.

Fiddament’s male passenger, whose name has not yet been released, was pronounced dead at the scene by Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics.

Traffic was blocked off for nearly five hours on 40th Street East, between Avenue Q and Palmdale Boulevard, as the incident was being investigated.

Fiddament remains jailed on $1 million bail, and he is due in court Thursday, Jan. 15.

The investigation is ongoing.

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UPDATE: The passenger killed in the collision has been identified as 33-year-old Manuel Lopez, according to Assistant Chief Ed Winter of the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

56 comments for "Alleged DUI driver rear-ends school bus in stolen vehicle, passenger killed"

  1. I too know Doug, and his family, what has happened is another tragedy for him, his family, and manual, and his family. This was an accident, not done on purpose. This family has had so much go wrong. Yes he should have done things but woulda coulda and shoulda, doesnt mean anything. for. Doug or anyone! I agree with his mom, he. will live with this. every second for the rest of his life. And at his young age, my god that is for ETERNITY, and my prayers go out to everyone! I want to add that just knowing Doug and his family, more than 1person is paying for this awful tragedy!!! No matter what he is charged with many people are now doing a life sentence, and that does not end. Doug, my heart goes out to you along with all the people that this has and will effect. And that is A LOT OF PEOPLE.

    • How is this merely and “accident” when he was deliberately driving a stolen vehicle at a high rate of speed. You mean to tell me he “accidentally” stole the vehicle and was “accidentally” exceeding the speed limit?
      Geeze!

    • kb- this is doug’s mom and I am not the person that everyone seems to think is me on certain comments, though i do agree with your nice words and i want to thank you for not bashing my baby. I guess some people have nothing better to do but talk crap!! If u don’t have anything nice to say then shut the hell up people. Besides what happened is none of you business (you haters, you know nothing about my son!!!), he is in a living hell for a while I’m sure. Worry about your own lives cuz you NEVER know when something like this may happen to you, which I DON”T wish what we are all going through on anyone, but have some consideration and respect for the family and friends of the ones affected by this tragedy!! Dont worry Dougie is off the streets and paying for this accident!! Thank you

  2. Yea i would like to talk about this too privately im sorry about your kids too i know its a bigger pain for that to happen to her sons

  3. As a little girl growing up my moms’ best friend had a son who we all just knew would end up doing life or getting the death penalty. He started young with breaking and entering, burglary, GTA, all the things that lead to that road. As a young adult he was arrested for murder. He used drugs not just pot but heroin and such. Well he did his time and it seemed nothing had changed as he was right back to his old ways. And in his late 30’s something happened to change him. It has been about 15 years now and he is still completely clean and sober and is working hard to give back to a community that he worked so hard to destroy. He is a minister and a treatment counselor. He is happily married and his greatest joy is his grandson. You would never know now what his life was like at one time.He isnt proud of his past but he is proud of where it has brought him. A man I was scared to death of growing up I am now proud to know. Your past is your past it is what you take from it and turn it into that is what ultimately defines you. I in no way condone using or drinking and driving and believe people should take full responsibility for their actions but anyone can change and be a productive member of society. I would have never believed that years ago but I see things a little different today. Yes he needs to own up to what has happened and take responsibility for his actions which unfortunately includes killing, I assume, his friend. And he hopefully will take this opportunity to change what needs to be changed and be the person his family can rely on and be proud of. Thank goodness there were no children on the bus and for his friend may you rest in peace.

  4. It is sad to see how society views and can post as much heartless comments as some of the idiots have here. What sucks is this was a tragedy that will never be fixed or erased. Doggie keep your head up my boy…

    • It could never be fixed or erased, your right. But it could’ve been prevented. Driving under the influence of drugs, as he was suspected, is illegal. And it is illegal because it causes impairment which can lead to accidents, injuries and/or death and in this case all were caused. And now many people are affected forever because of one persons idiotic choice. How do you expect people to have a heart? Every one has tragedies, problems, hard times. So because he had those people are expected to be compassionate after he killed someone? Maybe a reason why this kid kept going on the path he chose was due to the people near him that felt bad for him and let things go. It sounds like he was enabled to continue making poor choices because of his hard life. Now look where that got him, his friend, and both families. I pray he learns from this huge horrible mistake since it seems like he never learned from his past ones. But just like all people who commit crimes and make bad choices he will have to pay the consequences. It’s only fair.

      • i just would like to state, since i know doug very well, that yes. he hasnt learned from his mistakes. and yes he has made some serious mistakes in the past. and no this whole thing does not escuse him for killing a man. however, take into consideration that he didnt do it on purpose. its not like he purpopsly got fucked up to drive really fast to kill his passenger. doug needed treatment. and has been very destructive trying and failing to get help. unfortunatly he is responsible for this. but you shouldnt judge something you dont understand. nor know the circumstances. im sorry if im coming off as a bitch, i just really wish they could have elaborated on this. so more people were aware of what was really going on instead of what they wanted people to think on what happend.

  5. everybody has choices and it’s too bad this kid didn’t give a [removed] about the people he surrounded him self with or his neighbors he was drugged out stealing all peoples possessions in pearblossom for weeks if so many of you are dear to Doug you should have helped him sooner now you too should feel responsible for not speaking up to a family friend for a narcotics issue and if you are the one that kills your friend behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle under the influence and kill your friend or anyone else then you need to be held accountable for your actions !

  6. He is one of many in this valley with a drug problem, most of whom support their habit by stealing and selling to buy drugs. He just happened to get caught, unfortunately he didn’t get caught soon enough and now somebody has lost their life. That somebody was most likely an addict and went along willingly and probably helped steal the truck. I too have known douglas all of his life and I know he didn’t set out to kill somebody. So when all of you people say how glad you are that douglas is off the street now why don’t you say that your glad they are both off the streets. The passanger was not an innocent bystander nor was he forced to go, for all we know it was his idea and he convinced Douglas to go with him. Yes Doug was driving a stolen truck, yes he was on drugs or alcohol, yes he broke the law but everybody is so quick to blame him and say oh that poor passanger when nobody knows the real story. I think all drunk drivers should pay the price, there is no excuse for it, but all you lame brains seem to lose sight of the fact that these two kids had a problem as do most of the kids in this valley. They didn’t ask to become addicts. Doug should of never been allowed to bail out of jail after the first arrest. Then he gets arrested again and bails out again. The almighty dollar speaks and our court system should hand out harsher punishments and come up with a program that really works for these kids. Im sure that all of you who replied to the article are saints and have never broken the law so you wouldn’t know about how it also affects the families of these kids. You probably don’t much care either, you probably blame the parents. I feel for both of these kids families and I feel for Douglas too because his life also ended when this happened and regardless of what punishment he receives he will pay everyday for the rest of his life. He will be forever eaten up with guilt for the death of his friend and for putting his family through hell. So until you know all of the facts you should be silent. I agree that he should be punished but the other guy was just as guilty and it could of just as easily been Doug that was killed. This was not a murder, it was two guys committing a crime and something went wrong and one was killed, accidentally. It was not an innocent bystander, it was another criminal, so in this case I think murder is a little harsh. If he hit and killed an innocent bystander that would be murder.

    • Would you say the same thing if they changed places and the deceased was driving and Doug died? He’s a criminal too. Would you still agree for the charges to be lessened then for the other guy if he had lived and Doug died?

      • yes i would if the cicumstances were identicle and the difference was passenger and the driver

    • thank you, i know him very well as well. and i agree to everything youve said here. he was looking for help and contiuoulsy bounced back into his old ways. hell learn this time im sure of it

  9. This happened to my sister 3 years ago in AV yet everyone posted rude sick comments about her being a passenger it was her fault and two of her precious babies where left behind without their mother when her sick demented physically and mentally abusive ex intentionally crash the vehicle killing her when she was just 21 years old 10 days after her daughters 2nd birthday there is documented evidence of his sick obsession with my sister and the torment and put downs he himself and his family put her through but yet his bitch ass survived!!!

  10. Yet all you people continue to text and drive which now kills more people then drunk drivers.

    What fools!

  11. I’m glad they call it murder now. Back in 2000 when a man high on meth killed my parents, their coworker, his passenger & severely injured their other coworker in a car reported stolen all they called it was vehicular manslaughter. Seems the DA up there in the A.V. throws the book at these criminals now. Back in 2000 the DA greatly frustrated me & my family by saying they wouldn’t pursue the stolen car charge because he had previous access to the vehicle occasionally. If it was reported stolen & the girl in the car wasn’t the girlfriend the car belonged to then I’m pretty sure it was stolen. The LACSD did their job but as usual the Lancaster Municipal Court was a 3 ring circus. Perfect example of why cops are frustrated.

    • Sadly this driver will most likely plea down to vehicular manslaughter. A plea deal still goes in the win column for the DA’s office and they don’t have to spend so much on a trial.

  12. This happened right behind my backyard, I never imagined it was a DUI and a stolen vehicle… at that!! I called 911 the bus driver sounded so scared when he was calling for help. When they removed the roof of the vehicle and brought over Oxygen I guess they were checking for a pulse the firefighter gave the oxygen tank back to the other firefighter and then the took the stretcher away. I knew then someone lost their life. So upsetting that people continue to drink and drive, and then steal.. UGGH

  14. Isn’t it typical that the DUI offender live and someone else die? Vehicle manslaughter 7 years plus the GTA stolen vehicle, or maybe felony murder rule if they CONVICT him without a plea deal. I am glad the bus driver and kids are okay, but this could have been a lot worst. Now we will see the trial lawyers trying to sue the school district (deep pockets).

  15. According to the web his last arrest was 12/28/2014 for possession with intent to sell. Sad he chose the incorrect road for life.

      • His was really easy, I just copied the name in the article, pasted it into Google and hit search. The arrest result was one of the first hits on the page.

  16. What a shame! His life is over at such a young age.

    I am so sorry for the passenger and my condolences go out to his/her family. May God give them strength and comfort in their time of sorrow.

    • I Personally know this child to who I will always love no matter what, I am truly sorry to his friend that died in this unfortunate accident, and his family, yes he had a drug problem, Dougie is an awesome person when he is not on drugs, yes he has issues he lost his big brother who was NOT an addict, which he took very hard!! you people no nothing about Dougie, but he has to live with this for the rest of his life. So when you wanna be bashing people on this sight try and think about the fact you have no idea what is going on in their lives, and that even if they have problem they have family too!!

    • It sounds like he ended his life a long time ago with the path he chose of drugs, alcohol, thievery. It was a matter of time when it would all catch up to him.

      • Not only that, he continued to do so even after being arrested once. That wasn’t scary enough. He kept choosing to do wrong. It is painful to lose a loved one, especially someone so close, but hurting yourself or others isn’t the way to deal with it. I’m sorry.

        • Jj-did you not see the part that this was an ACCIDENT he didn’t set out that day thinking “I’m gonna get high, and hit a bus, and kill my good friend!!” believe me he is paying for this, and will for his entire life.

  17. I am happy to hear that he will be charged with murder. I think that anytime someone is killed in a drunk driving accident it should be considered murder not only if it is a felony that is being committed.

    If we had stiffer penalties than some people would probably think twice about committing crimes.

    I am glad that this criminal will be off the streets hopefully for the rest of his life so he can’t harm anyone else.

    • This is very unnecessary. No one should lose there life at a young age. He didn’t mean to do this. And he wasn’t drunk. You don’t know that situation that occured.

        • To Glo,
          I agree. I’m SMH over that idiotic comment by silly sally. LOL
          I notice the enablers and fans of dougie are all undereducated and have criminalistic mindsets.

    • How can you live with yourself saying such things ? I love Dougie with all my heart and he deserves a chance at life . You don’t know him or the situation so you shouldnt be saying anything at all What would you say if it was your child or someone you loved ? Remember God is the only judge that matters. Didn’t your parents teach you anything if you don’t have something nice to say don’t say nothing at all !

      • What if it was my child? I thought about it long and hard because I have three sons of my own. If my child had killed someone as a result of them being under the influence of anything, I would be devastated. I would be heartbroken and I would feel like my life would be over as well. And even though my kids aren’t bad hearted, they would pay the consequence. I have always taught them that whatever decision they make good or bad, they deal with the consequence. and I hope to continue to do so. No matter how good hearted, a life is lost, many lives have changed and you pay the consequence for your actions.

      • To His Friend,
        How can you live with yourself knowing you failed miserably as a parent. You enabled all of his criminal actions past and still are doing the same with his current lifestyle choices.
        He deserves a chance at life??? WTF? He’s not the one that’s dead! Shame on you.
        We do know him and we do know the situation. SMH over your false pious act. That is such a cop out saying that only God judges and matters. Tell that to the court of law’s judge when he sentences your thug son.
        Only the Judge at the AV court has the say so and his ruling matters. Case closed enabler of son.

        • your an idiot i am dougies mother not the person you are talking [removed] to with your comment get your facts straight before you go talking bad about me or my son you people that believe everything the paper says you wern’t there and neither was i so u need to check yourself, the truth of what really happened will come out soon enough!! and thats all i can say!!!(until its over due to the fact this is an open case and can not talk about it ) my heart goes out to his family and friends, on the behalf of douglas and our famly i am very sorry this happened to both our children. i do know the pain of losing a child and i do know how this feels and i dont even know what to say about these comments on here, people your just pathetic there is 2 faimilies affected the most by this tragity butt for gods sake could you all have a little bit class, damn

          • The passenger was my cousin he was like a brother to me he taught me many things i never knew it truly does break my heart knowing he is gone just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes but i will never forget the memories we shared together the kind person he was i love you meño youll never be forgotten

          • to Juan
            from Douglas myself, (his mom), and our entire family to Manual you Juan, and all of your family, we are so very sorry for this tragic loss. I truly know personally know how it feel to lose family so dear to our hearts. I also Lost My oldest son Robert (RIP) it will be 5 years on March 10, 2015. That is truly the worst thing I have been dealt, and now because of a tragic car accident I could lose my youngest to prison, and the thought of this is unbearable. Douglas has asked me to give his deepest condolences and to let u know how sorry he is, Manual was his friend and he has to live with this every minute no every second of the rest of his life. I would like to meet with you Juan so we can speak privately and not have these people judge every word we say please let me know if that would be ok. I am so sorry for your loss. Douglas’s mom