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Benicia, CA 94510.

How safe are our streets?

By Rick Ernst

BENICIA, CA / November 15, 2007, 8:00 AM
I'm concerned about what is happening in Benicia following the tragedy that occurred behind the school yard at St. Dominic's on November 4th.

Driving to work Tuesday morning down Hastings Drive, when I reached Devonshire Drive, I noticed that somebody during the night or early morning had lost control of their car and crashed into the fence of the home located at 1784 Devonshire Drive. I believe that is the Hampton Bay Development and the fence is most likely "common area" and will need to be replaced by the Homeowners Association. But, it looks as if it almost went into the homeowners Living Room.



SIGN LOCATED ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE ACCIDENT

I then proceeded down the hill making a right onto Southampton Drive to Military East where the Calvary Community Church sign and a parking pole had been taken out.




IT WAS NOT DETERMINED IF THESE WERE CAUSED BY TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS OR NOT!

I called the Benicia Police Department to find out what they knew about the two events that I ran across, and Captain Steve Mortensen of the Benicia Police Department confirmed that two separate accidents occurred last Saturday the 10th -- a wet and slippery day on our roads.

The first occurred around 2:00 PM. The driver traveling southbound on Hastings Drive lost control of their car in wet conditions, jumped the curb and crashed into the fence of the home located at 1784 Devonshire Drive located in the Hampton Bay Development. The relatively new fence is most likely "common area" and will need to be replaced by the Homeowners Association and paid for by the driver. The driver was not injured but was apparently driving faster than conditions permitted.

In a separate incident that occurred around 7:30 PM later that day, another driver traveling southbound on Southampton Road left the pavement in wet conditions, jumped the curb and drove up a slight grade approximately 30 feet and hit the Calvary Community Church sign. Apparently, no police report was taken, and the driver contacted the Church to inform them of the incident and that the driver would take care of the expenses to repair the sign.

It is unknown if the street sign indicating that there is no parking and that pedestrians are not allowed on that side of the street was knocked down was a result of the same incident.

Again, it appears as if the driver was driving more quickly than the wet road conditions permitted.

It is unknown if alcohol was a factor in either incident; however, clearly speed was. Talking with Captain Mortensen and Officer Baron of the Benicia Police Department, they strongly requested that any resident of Benicia that sees any automobile traveling at an excessive and dangerous rate of speed (or any other suspicious activity) should contact the Benicia Police Dispatch immediately at 745-3412.

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Here's the police news release regarding the fatal accident that occurred on November 4th:

Fatal Traffic Collision
AGENICIES INVOLVED:
Benicia Police Department
California Highway Patrol
Solano County Sheriff’s Coroners Office

Suspect/ Driver: Aton, Ricky Matthew, WMA
DOB 1-6-86, Benicia Resident

On November 4th at 2313 hours a Benicia Police Officer was on routine patrol in a marked police unit. The officer observed another motorist driving in a suspicious manner in the 100 block of East H Street and turned to follow the motorist. The motorist accelerated and failed to stop at a stop sign. The officer attempted to catch up with the motorist, but the motorist was involved in a collision with a tree in the 400 block of East J Street before the officer could catch up.

The motorist later identified as Ricky Aton suffered major injuries and was airlifted to John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek. The passenger in his vehicle was declared dead at the scene. The identity of the female passenger is being withheld until the next of kin can be notified.

The California Highway Patrol was called to the scene and is investigating the traffic collision. The California Highway patrol is investigating possible vehicular homicide, and felony drunk driving charges against Aton. At the time of this collision Aton was on parole for felony evasion.

Contact Information: For further information, please contact Captain Steve Mortensen at 746-4262.



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