Every few years people have to come out to support the El Camino eucalyptus trees when they are threatened by Caltrans (who manage El Camino since it is a state highway). During these hearings we hear how dangerous the eucalyptus trees might be if one were to fall. We don't often hear how they protect people and property.
Today's Daily Post has a short article about the fatal accident that happened at 9:50pm Saturday night on El Camino just south of Safeway. The driver and passenger in a silver Infiniti M45 had to be extricated with the "jaws of life" and the passenger did not make it.
I saw the aftermath of this accident on Saturday night. The police spray paint markings are still on the pavement showing where the car hit the curb right next to the bus stop on the west side of El Camino. It then careened more than 50 yards across 4 lanes and hit a eucalyptus on the east side of the road. The bus shelter is between two eucalyptus and the row of eucalyptus on the east side shield the fence for United Methodist Church childrens' playground as well as some residential buildings. Neighbors have estimated that the Infiniti was traveling at twice the speed limit (about 70 mph). It landed upside down about 5 yards from the UMC fence and was unrecognizable as an Infiniti. Let's all keep those eucalyptus in mind.
- Written by Joe
Unfortunately, the drive was arrested for felony drunk driving. The driver was 36 years old.
It is more fortunate that no other family of driver was injured due to the poor judgement of a drunk driver.
It seems that no matter how much information is disseminated about drinking and driving, even a Burlingame resident who was 36 years old chose to drink, get behind the wheel of a car, and engage in wreckless driving.
Yes, it is fortunate the tree stopped him, but it would have been better if the driver at age 36 had learned that his actions could have been prevented.
Now, he will survive and live with the fact that his friend died all because he felt like having alcohol and driving too fast.
Posted by: P.A. | April 14, 2009 at 02:07 AM
Update from the Daily Journal today:
DUI crash victim identified Daily Journal Staff Report
The San Mateo County Coroner's Office released the identity of the man killed Saturday night in what appeared to be a drunk-driving crash in Burlingame.
Daniel James White, 36, of San Francisco, died after being extricated from the wreck at El Camino Real and Howard Avenue around 9:50 p.m., police said.
The driver of the silver Infinity M45, Bruce Walker of Burlingame, also had to be extricated.
Walker was allegedly speeding south on El Camino Real when he crossed Howard Avenue and lost control of the car. The car slid sideways into a eucalyptus tree on the passenger side, police said. Walker was seriously injured but is expected to survive. Police said he was arrested for suspicion of felony drunk driving. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the Burlingame Police Department at 777-4100.
***
San Mateo Times article
Posted by: | April 14, 2009 at 10:28 AM
The driver appeared in court and it was revealed that he had two prior arrests for the DUI. One was in 2007, I don't understand why his license was not revoked!
Posted by: P.A. | April 16, 2009 at 02:03 PM
Although not driving, he was also arrested a couple times under influence of alcohol, caused disturbances in the neighborhood, and started bar fights. I'm glad that they're finally going to put him away, otherwise, he'll never learn a lesson.
Posted by: Hank | April 21, 2009 at 04:36 AM
Hi P.A., I did a quick check on the San Mateo Court docket. It shows he really has a couple other arrests and convictions on file. But it also looks like he filed a frivolous lawsuit with some guy named Al Giovannetti on the company he worked for recently:
http://openaccess1.sanmateocourt.org/openaccess/civil/casereport.asp?casenumber=477875casetype=CIVcourtcode=A
What a bunch of despictable, rotten guys causing harms to the society and misuing our legal system. I hope he'll get backfired from that other case especially if he had missed many workdays due to his drunkenness. The district attorney is probably keeping his eyes out for any evidences from that other case as it unravels.
Posted by: Henry | April 21, 2009 at 05:29 AM
Pleads Not Guilty
from the San Mateo Journal:
The driver whose passenger died after his speeding car slammed into a tree in Burlingame appeared in court yesterday for the second time since the fatal collision and released from an area hospital where he was treated for his own injuries.
Bruce Walker, 36, pleaded not guilty to felony gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and felony drunk driving while intoxicated causing injury. Walker waived his right to a speedy trial and was ordered back to court June 23 for a preliminary hearing.
Defense attorney Steven Whitworth unsuccessfully sought Walker's release on his own recognizance. Although Judge Don Franchi denied the motion, he did set a bail reduction hearing for May 12.
Walker, of Burlingame, was arrested April 11 after his silver Infinity M45 allegedly sped south on El Camino Real crossing Howard Avenue and slid sideways into a eucalyptus tree on the passenger side. Walker was seriously injured and passenger Daniel James White, 36, was pronounced dead at the scene after being extricated from the wreck.
Walker is charged with felony DUI because of two prior convictions for the same charge in 2001 and 1997. His blood alcohol content has not been divulged publicly.
Posted by: P.A. | April 30, 2009 at 02:02 PM
Bruce walker is a good guy. all of you judgmental ___ forgets innocent until proven otherwise. Of coarse, if you have anything else to say about it Id be happy to meet up with you and settle it.
Never forget how easy your life could be put under a microscope. People ___, ____ happens even to good people.
this whole thing is a tragedy and you who don't know ____. are your lives so boring that you have to be the nosy neighbor. I grew up in Burlingame I know exactly what kind of people live there.
Dont even get me started on BPD what a joke.They couldn't crack open an egg.
(edited for language)
Posted by: matt | December 25, 2009 at 08:45 PM
Editor
Would you please correct the spelling and grammar errors in the above comments so that they are understandable?
Me thinks that someone consumed a lot of Christmas eggnog before writing the above.
Posted by: Amen | December 26, 2009 at 07:51 PM
Eggnog is as eggnog does, to paraphrase Forrest Gump. If we start correcting grammar, spelling and punctuation the Voice will lose some of it character(s).
Posted by: editor | December 27, 2009 at 10:45 PM
dear editor sorry my spelling is so s----y. I graduated from Burlingame High in a time you could slip through the system. i really have know idea how i graduated in the top 40% of my class. Imagine 60% of my class is dumber then me. crazy huh. aside from my s----y spelling and use of grammar people get what the #@*! I'm saying? Communication isn't just about spelling and grammar but I'm sure you already new that with your big fancy degree. oh yea and thanks for allowing me to exercise my first amendment right even thought I had (get ready for this) syntax errors. Impressed? I need a job
Posted by: matt | January 07, 2010 at 02:55 AM
The first section of the book basically includes all you need to know about the parts of speech with many specific ideas about how to get those concepts across to students.
good posts well,and now change some ideas each other,link my name firstly.
Posted by: jordan 7 | October 15, 2010 at 08:39 PM
The first section of the book basically includes all you need to know about the parts of speech with many specific ideas about how to get those concepts across to students.
good posts well,and now change some ideas each other,link my name firstly.
Posted by: jordan 7 | October 15, 2010 at 08:39 PM