SAN BERNARDINO >> Four people — including a 9-year-old girl — died over the weekend as a result of traffic collisions, making October the deadliest month in 2015 for fatal traffic crashes in San Bernardino.
As of Monday, a total of 36 people have died in 35 traffic incidents this year — nine in October alone.
“And the month’s not even over yet,” said Sgt. Vicki Cervantes with the San Bernardino Police Department.
When compared to the 23 homicides committed this year, a person is more likely to be killed by a vehicle than a bullet.
“This is the number-one killer in our community,” said Lt. Travis Walker recently.
Four deaths in one weekend
An 86-year-old woman, Maria Gutierrez, was struck and killed as she crossed the 1500 block of Mt. Vernon Avenue at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday when she was struck by a southbound vehicle, officials said.
The 9-year-old was struck by a Dodge Caravan Thursday evening in the 1300 block of N. Arrowhead Road, said Cervantes. The girl ran across the street into the path of the vehicle. She died Saturday.
Just before 2:30 a.m. Saturday, Jorge A. Hernandez-Ojeda, 20, of San Bernardino was driving his 2008 Honda Accord westbound on Mill Street at Mt. Vernon when he was broadsided by a 2005 Pontiac Grand AM being driven by Juan Sanchez, 24, of San Bernardino. According to officials, Sanchez allegedly failed to stop for the red light before entering the intersection.
Both men were taken to the hospital but Hernandez-Ojeda later died. Alcohol may have been a factor in this crash.
On Oct. 12, a 47-year-old woman was crossing E. Highland Avenue at night, mid-block near Bradford Avenue when she was struck by a 2013 Honda CRV. The woman was taken to a hospital and died Saturday.
One detective to investigate 36 deaths
As the only detective in the San Bernardino Police traffic division, Devin Peck is not only responsible for investigating the 36 traffic fatalities this year, he’s also tasked with gathering information on hit-and-runs and major accidents where there may not necessarily be a death.
“It gets busy,” said Peck, just before he and reserve officer Al Burgess made their way to one of the city garages to pull an airbag device from a head-on crash that killed a young man last month. “It’s not uncommon that we haven’t even wrapped up one scene when we get a call about another.”
When traffic fatalities happen on what seems to be a nearly weekly basis, Peck and his team alwayshave work to do.
“I don’t fish and I don’t play golf,” said Burgess, who volunteers his time with the traffic division. “So I come here (SBPD) and help out.”
Burgess, who used to run his own diesel truck repair business, helps with vehicle inspections as well as the hit-and-run investigations. Last year, Burgess logged in nearly 12,000 in volunteer hours with the department.
“The dedication they both have is amazing,” Cervantes said.
When Peck and his team aren’t actively investigating crashes, they are in court giving testimony, working with the San Bernardino County district Attorney’s Office or calling family members.
“Just because there is no crime scene tape up doesn’t mean the investigation is done,” Peck said. “There is a lot of paperwork and investigation that has to be done after the crash is done.”
It takes Peck and his team about five to six weeks of active investigation to catch up on cases, said Peck.
“I do it for the victims and their families,” said Peck. “They deserve to have these cases seen to the end.”
Many factors contribute to traffic fatalities
Thirty-six people have been killed in San Bernardino this year due to traffic incidents, but the reason why is still up for debate.
“The contributing factors are all across the board,” said Cervantes. “Some are DUI-realted, others involved speed and others are pedestrians not crossing where they’re supposed to be.”
About a third of the total fatalities involved pedestrians, at least two involved an impaired driver and unsafe turning maneuvers were cited in at least seven incidents.
The number of traffic officers on the streets could also be a factor in the uptick in fatal crashes.
Due to the city’s bankruptcy and budgetary cuts to the department, the traffic division dwindled from an all-time high of 14 motor officers to the current number of only six. While Peck, Cervantes and Walker all agree that there isn’t just one concrete contributor to the recent spike in traffic deaths, they do feel that the drop in traffic officers could be a factor.
As the number of fatalities continues to climb year after year, the number of traffic officers drops.
In 2012, the city saw 11 fatalities at a time when there were 12 officers on the streets, according to San Bernardino police numbers. The numbers then started to diverge. In 2013 there were 18 fatalities and eight officers. Last year, with only six officers, 33 people lost their lives as a result of fatal crashes in the city.
But no matter the cause, officials urge motorists to drive safely and to watch out for pedestrians.
“People have to slow down and just be real cautious,” said Cervantes. “There are two victims and two sets of families affected and impacted by these fatal crashes.”
• 36 — The number of traffic-related deaths in San Bernardino in 2015
• 9 — The number of traffic-related deaths in October 2015
• 14 to 6 — The dip in the number of motor officers patrolling local streets
• 9 — The age of the most recent victim
