Citrus Heights police said this morning that a four-car accident Thursday night was caused by a female suspect who fled the scene after running a red light and ramming another vehicle in the intersection of Greenback Lane and Sunrise Boulevard.
“Initial reports are that the driver of [a] Cadillac ran a red light and broadsided another vehicle,” said Citrus Heights Police Department Sergeant Bryan Fritsch, who indicated the suspect was driving at a “high rate of speed” on Greenback Lane and fled the scene on foot afterwards. He said the suspect had been identified as a woman in her thirties, but added, “the status of her arrest is unknown at this time.”
The collision occurred just after 8 p.m. Thursday, partially blocking traffic at the intersection as about a dozen officers responded to the scene and diverted Sunrise Boulevard traffic to Greenback Lane.
The driver of the broadsided Hyundai was taken to a local hospital with unknown injuries, while drivers of the two other vehicles involved were uninjured, according to police.
All details have not been released yet, as police say the investigation is still underway. The incident is likely to have been caught on the intersection’s red light cameras, which take video of activity occurring after a light turns red.
Sacramento Sheriff’s Deputy Danny Oliver was laid to rest Monday in Citrus Heights, after traffic was blocked on Greenback Lane to allow an extensive law enforcement procession to make its way to Sierra Hills Memorial Park & East Lawn mortuary, before continuing to Fountain Square Drive for a private reception at the Citrus Heights Community Center.
A law enforcement procession for slain Deputy Danny Oliver traveled along Greenback, making a turn on Fountain Square Drive, Monday.
Although attendance at the burial and reception was restricted, those wishing to pay tribute to the fallen Deputy were invited by the Sheriff’s Department to stand alongside portions of the procession route, with some doing so near city hall.
“I wanted to bring my grandson out to see the camaraderie of law enforcement coming together,” said Citrus Heights resident Sharon Day, who brought 3-year-old Jackson out to see the procession and pay respect to the fallen deputy. She said the shooting was personal to her because she works near where the fatal shooting occurred just over a week ago, and said the area around her workplace was teaming with law enforcement officers that day.
Although the Department made an effort to publicize the procession path in advance and advise alternative traffic routes, some drivers had no idea what was going on, with Twitter lighting up from comments about seeing “30 Sheriffs” at once, and user “@jmeanz” commenting, “there’s literally traffic everywhere in Citrus Heights right now.”
Prior to the burial, a public memorial service was held in the morning at Adventure Christian Church in Roseville, attended by thousands of law enforcement officers from numerous agencies. Family members of Deputy Oliver were honored during the memorial as well, with Sacramento Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Jason Ramos offering some kind words.
“Our nation is grateful to you,” said the sergeant to family members of the slain deputy. “We hope that you find strength to bear the loss and you know that our nation will always remember and honor the one you loved.”
The families were also financially helped “within 72 hours” by the Citrus-Heights based organization “Badges Supporting Fallen Officers’ Families,” according to Bret Daniels, a founding member and former Sacramento Sheriff’s Deputy. The organization’s website states it was founded to provide immediate assistance to families of officers who were killed in the line of duty, to “bridge the gap until resources from federal, state, local or life insurance are made available.”
Warning that October 31 is statistically “one of the most deadly nights of the year,” the Citrus Heights Police Department announced it will be deploying extra officers to the streets as part of a “DUI Saturation Patrol” operation this weekend, according to a press release from the Department.
“We want people to remember: like ‘Trick-or-Treat;’ ‘Drink-or-Drive.’ One or the other, but never both,” said CHPD Sergeant Dave Gutierrez in a written statement to the media. “Before you take your first sip of alcohol on October 31, figure out who your designated sober driver will be.”
Police say additional officers will be out looking for signs of alcohol or drug impairment beginning Halloween night and extending through the weekend, adding that drinking-while-walking can be “just as dangerous” as drinking-while-driving.
Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that among fatalities involving pedestrians in 2012, 34 percent involved the pedestrian being above the legal limit for blood alcohol content, while only 14 percent involved the driver being drunk. The data also reveals pedestrian fatalities doubled on Halloween in 2012, with a total of 54 deaths that night.
Reminding drivers that “buzzed driving is drunk driving,” the Department said there were 10,322 people killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2012, with nearly half involving a drunk driver. Police label these as “preventable deaths,” resulting from when drunk drivers fail to plan ahead and designate a sober driver.
In an attempt to curb deaths and injuries from alcohol-related crashes, Citrus Heights police recommend designating a sober driver, reporting drunk drivers and offering to drive someone home who may be impaired. The Department also advises drivers to be extra cautious of the increased level of pedestrians Halloween night.
The local effort to curb drunk driving is part of a regional and national Avoid DUI Taskforce effort, funded by grants from the NHTSA.
Updated Sept. 30 with video, 12:01 p.m.-
A weekend police motorcycle rodeo and Traffic Safety Fair drew about 2,000 people to the northern parking lot of Sunrise Mall, raising over $2600 for charity and leaving the Citrus Heights Police Department with six awards for performance of several competing officers.
23 police officers piled into a small coned-off square for the weekend’s final “Last Man Standing” event.
With 23 officers enlisting in the competition from around the state, Officer Kristopher Frey took home the most awards from the Citrus Heights Police Department (CHPD), earning first and second place in several competitions.
Navigating his thousand-pound Harley Davidson Road King through a maze of obstacles and tight corners, Frey took first place in the Harley class “Slow Speed Challenge Course” – a course described by officers as “extremely challenging,” and one that some contestants couldn’t complete. Frey also took home third place in the same course on his BMW and second place in the “Solo Officer Speed Course” on his Harley.
Competitions were divided by class between the older Harley Davidson police motorcycles and the newer, lighter BMW R1200RT-P bikes, with CHPD resurrecting two of its recently replaced Harleys for officers Anthony Boehle and Frey to compete and win several awards with.
Taking home first place on their BMW’s, Officer Frey joined with CHPD’s Sergeant David Gutierrez in the two-man team skills challenge called “Drop in the Bucket”. The rules for this course required officers to enter a circle with only one hand to steer, while the other hand was used to grab tennis balls from the top of traffic cones and throw them into a center receptacle. Officers were disqualified if they touched their bars with two hands, knocked over a cone, put their foot down or dropped their bike.
Saturday’s competition closed out with what organizers called “Last Man Standing,” where all 23 officers piled into a small, coned-off square and had to ride ’til they dropped. Officers were required to stay on their bikes at all times, and couldn’t touch the ground with their feet to stabilize their bikes without being disqualified. Officer Eddie Chan of San Jose reportedly won the final event, although there was some disagreement over whether California Highway Patrol Officer Anthony Gioletti had been the last one to put his foot down.
The second annual motorcycle competition and fair raised over $2600 was raised for the Citrus Heights Police Activities League charity, with local businesses like Citrus Heights Saw & Mower and Sprout’s contributing raffle prizes, and others like Aba Daba Rentals, Signs in 1 Day and the Citrus Heights Rotary club making cash donations to support the event.
Prizes included a Glock pistol from Sacramento Black Rifle and motorcycle gear from companies that have done business with the police department. Competing officers also enjoyed meals donated by Citrus Heights’ Beach Hut Deli, Buffalo Wild Wings and the Sacramento County Law Enforcement Chaplaincy.
Saturday’s event also featured a kids bicycle rodeo, face-painting and bounce-houses for attendees, and a local high school student sang the national anthem to kick the day off.
The event was attended by several council members and was sponsored by the City of Citrus Heights and its police department, along with the support of local businesses.
[box]Jan. 16, 2015 update — The shooting is still under investigation and no arrest has been made so far, according to police spokesperson Anthony Boehle.[/box]
A Friday night shooting in Citrus Heights has left one man dead after police say his vehicle was struck by gunfire and collided with a light pole near Sayonara Drive and Lialana Way, according to a police department press release sent out today.
“The Citrus Heights Police Department and our community will not tolerate such violent crime in our neighborhoods,” said Lieutenant Ryan Kinnan. “We believe someone has information concerning this crime and are asking those individuals to come forward.”
Around 11:22 p.m. last night, officers were dispatched in response to a report of shots fired and later reports of a vehicle collision, according to police. Upon arrival, they located the vehicle and “performed life saving measures” on the unidentified unconscious male driver, until paramedics arrived and transported him to a local hospital where police say he was pronounced deceased.
A preliminary investigation indicates the shooting was not a random act and police are asking residents in the area with outdoor security cameras are asked to review their video footage to identify if they may have captured any details related to the incident.
Police say witnesses reported the shots were fired from a vehicle last seen heading west on Sayonara Drive, but are seeking more information.
The details involving the suspect and suspect vehicle are still under investigation, and anyone who may have information related to the incident is encouraged to contact the Investigative Service Division at 916-727-5500.
Updated 7:53 p.m., Sept. 20–
Orange safety cones dotted the parking lot at Sunrise Mall as part of Saturday’s police motorcycle competition and traffic safety fair, which also featured a kids bicycle rodeo, face-painting and bounce-houses.
An image from a Citrus Heights Police Department tweet shows cones laid out in the Sunrise Mall parking lot as part of the Department’s Saturday motorcycle competition.
Citrus Heights Police Officer Anthony Boehle said 23 motorcycle officers from across the state competed in the event, demonstrating their control and riding skills as they navigated around cones and difficult turns in Saturday’s timed challenge.
Although the event was free to the public, a $50 registration fee was required for officers wishing to participate in the competition, with a police department press release saying proceeds from the event will go to the Citrus Heights Police Activities League, a local nonprofit which works with officers and personnel who volunteer their time to “mentor and influence local, at-risk youth through a variety of recreational activities.”
The “Motor Rodeo” and fair was held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and was hosted by the Citrus Heights Police Department in conjunction with Sunrise Mall and the City of Citrus Heights.
Several lanes on Antelope Road at Sunrise Boulevard were shut down for five hours Monday, after officers responded to a motor scooter injury accident around 3 a.m. – just 12 hours later, Antelope Road lanes were shut down again when a bicyclist collided with a vehicle just a few blocks away at the Auburn Road intersection.
Citrus Height police conduct investigation at Antelope Road and Auburn Boulevard, Monday.
The morning collision involved a scooter carrying two people, which reports say struck a median after sliding 250 feet along the ground. Police said the afternoon collision involved a bicyclist crossing Antelope Road against a red light, who struck a van that was lawfully in the intersection.
The morning collision resulted in several lanes being closed for five hours during commute time as police conducted an investigation, and lanes were closed again in the afternoon for about an hour.
Police said no helmets were worn by those involved in both the morning and afternoon crashes, and all three persons were hospitalized with injuries ranging from moderate to critical.
A Citrus Heights Police Department press release sent out after Monday’s injury accidents reminded bicyclists “to obey all rules of the road, including riding with the flow of traffic, and to protect themselves by wearing a helmet.”
The CHPD requests that anyone who may have seen the afternoon collision contact their Traffic Unit at 916-727-5500.
