Victims from Wednesday’s crash still in hospital
As the community comes together today for a memorial to remember the 10 people who were killed in Wednesday’s farmer’s market crash, two people remain in critical condition.
A memorial service is planned today at 12:15 p.m. at the intersection of the Third Street Promenade and Arizona Avenue, where Santa Monica resident Russell Weller drove through a crowded farmer’s market, killing 10 and hospitalizing close to 50 people.
A procession is planned from St. Augustine-By-The-Sea church, located at 1227 Fourth St. at noon, to the farmer’s market, which will take place today.
The ceremony will include spiritual leaders and Mayor Richard Bloom will address the community.
On Friday, two patients — one of whom is a child — remain in critical condition at UCLA Medical Center. At Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center, four remain under care in the hospital. One is in serious condition, one is in fair condition and two are in good condition.
Weller has not yet been charged but police are investigating the matter. Meanwhile, more details about Weller have emerged. A Mercedes was impounded by the California Highway Patrol that may have been involved in an accident with Weller before he plowed through the market at speeds witnesses estimate to be as fast as 60 mph.
It is unknown if Weller crashed into the Mercedes on Fourth Street and attempted to flee the scene, or if he became disoriented and then hit the accelerator instead of the brake.
While police are investigating Weller’s ability to drive, others are questioning it. Television stations on Thursday showed a home video tape recorded by Weller’s neighbor that shows an accident Weller was involved in 10 years ago. The video shows how Weller’s Buick LeSabre crashed into a retaining wall after he apparently hit the accelerator instead of the brake.
And when police served search warrants at his home in the 600 block of 25th Street looking for medication and other evidence on Wednesday night, they discovered that the car had hit the wall of his garage at least twice based on damage detectives saw.
But Weller did more damage on Wednesday that will stick with people for the rest of their lives, including his own and his family.
As the city tries to return to normalcy, many people are asking how such a tragic accident could have happened. Some suggest the city is partly responsible for not having barricades at either end of the twice-weekly market. Others say Weller was simply too old to drive.
Police opened the street to the public again on Thursday, after dozens of workers scrubbed and tarred over the blood and spray paint where evidence and bodies were located.
Counseling centers set up for those affected by tragedy were fairly quiet Friday. About 20 people showed up at the American Red Cross drop-in center at the Ken Edwards Center, located on 1527 Fourth St., officials said. Another drop-in counseling center has been set up at the American Red Cross of Santa Monica, located at 1450 11th St.
Wednesday’s original 911 call came in at 1:47 p.m. as a multi-casualty incident and that shots had been fired, said Santa Monica Fire Chief Ettore Beraradinelli.
But once emergency personnel and police arrived on scene, they realized the incident was a horrific accident and didn’t involve gunfire.
It didn’t much matter what had happened for the hundreds of emergency workers that arrived from multiple jurisdictions throughout Los Angeles. The immediate goal was to sort through the victims, get the most critically injured to hospitals and treat the others on scene.
And given the enormity of the situation, many more lives could’ve been lost if it hadn’t been for swift action by civilians and emergency workers, Beraradinelli said.
In a situation with close to 70 victims, organization is the key to saving lives, he added.
Emergency workers were able to process all the victims under two hours. Fifty people were transported to eight different hospitals during that time and all of them were accounted for by emergency personnel.
“The plan worked better than some our drills have,” Beraradinelli said. “It was a moment that tested their skills and they passed with flying colors. It can be overwhelming but they overwhelmed the situation.”
“It was a moment that tested their skills and they passed with flying colors.” — — ETTORE BERARADINELLI Santa Monica Fire Chief
Dozens of market vendors and shoppers immediately jumped in to help victims by holding their hands, wrapping them in make-shift blankets and talking to them before paramedics could treat them.
“We never even found out who they were,” Beraradinelli said. “Once we took over, they faded away.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 19, 2003. Read the original PDF.