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Patrol car accident under investigation
Published January 19, 2010
Del Rio Police Department officials said today a review board will be convened to investigate the circumstances surrounding a collision Friday night between a patrol car and a private vehicle.
But at this point, police said it appears that veteran DRPD Lt. Steven Webb, the driver of the patrol car involved in the accident, was not at fault in the collision.
DRPD Capt. Bill Rattay said the collision between Webb's marked patrol car and a 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe, driven by John Samaniego, a resident of Brackettville, occurred at 9:25 p.m. Friday at the intersection of Veterans Boulevard and East First Street.
Rattay said according to an accident report filed by DRPD Sgt. Paul Hurley, the Tahoe was traveling eastbound out of the H-E-B parking lot. Rattay said the Tahoe attempted to cross Veterans Boulevard in front of Webb's patrol car, which was traveling north on Veterans Boulevard at the time of the accident.
Rattay said it was raining at the time of the accident and the surface of the roadway was wet.
“The (Tahoe) tried to cross the street in front of Lt. Webb, and there was not enough time for him to stop, due to the vehicle's close proximity and because of the road conditions,” Rattay said.
The patrol car struck the Tahoe broadside in its passenger compartment, Rattay said.
Neither Samaniego nor Webb were injured in the collision, Rattay said. A passenger, identified as 32-year-old Sandra Samaniego, who was riding in the front seat of the Tahoe when the accident occurred, was taken to Val Verde Regional Medical Center by ambulance for treatment of possible injuries, Rattay said. Rattay said a third person in the Tahoe, 20-year-old Joseph Eloy Treviño, was not injured in the collision.
Rattay said Webb, a 30-year veteran of the police department, was working as the supervisor of the DRPD's 1600 shift when he struck the Tahoe.
Rattay said Hurley cited Samaniego for failing to yield the right of way while exiting a private driveway and for not having proof of financial responsibility.
Rattay said an accident review board will be convened Wednesday to further investigate the accident.
“This is standard operating procedure,” Rattay said today. “The members of the accident review board will watch the video from the patrol car and interview the various people involved. The board will forward its findings to the chief.”
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