By Andrea Adelson | LB Indy
An investigation of the traffic death of Laguna Beach motor Officer Jon Coutchie last year concludes that a motorist was primarily at fault in the collision, but says Coutchie’s speed 30 m.p.h. over the posted limit was a contributing factor, according to findings in the report released Thursday.
After reviewing the recently concluded investigation, Senior Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Walker, who specializes in vehicular manslaughter, last week informed Laguna Beach police she would not prosecute the unidentified motorist involved, says a statement by Laguna Beach police.
The California Highway Patrol’s Major Accident Investigation Team determined that both parties violated vehicle codes, the motorist who failed to yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic and the motorcycle officer traveling at an unsafe speed for the conditions, Capt. Jason Kravetz said, citing the report. Investigators estimated Coutchie’s speed at between 59 and 61 m.p.h. in a section posted for 30 m.p.h.
“Being called an associated factor is significant,” Kravetz said.
Coutchie’s northbound motorcycle rammed the passenger side of a southbound GMC pickup as it turned left across Coast Highway at Cleo Street shortly after 11:34 p.m. last Sept. 21. Ten minutes earlier, Coutchie had made a car stop at Oak Street, the report says. In response to a 11:34 p.m. broadcast about a gray Acura “hot-rodding through the middle part of town,” Coutchie resumed patrolling the highway northbound. “We think he saw it and was going after it,” said Kravetz, but there was no record of radio traffic by the motorcycle officer.
According to the report, the southbound motorist never saw the motorcycle officer. The driver did not come to a complete stop as he approached a green light at the intersection, but was traveling about 15 m.p.h., Kravetz said. The driver looked for northbound traffic and at a car stopped at the intersection as he made a left turn and was hit by Coutchie, Kravetz explained.
Neither drugs nor alcohol were a factor in either party, the report finds. The 20-year-old motorist had eaten dinner with friends and was heading home to Irvine, Kravetz said. The Irvine man’s driving record is unblemished.
“Both families are going through rough times,” Kravetz said.
Coutchie’s mother, Luciana, still wonders if her son, whose Army Ranger training made him hyper-alert to his environment, failed to anticipate the actions of the oncoming motorist. “It doesn’t change things,” she said, laying blame for the collision on the speeding driver that was never pursued. “That’s who I hold responsible for my son’s death,” said Mrs. Coutchie, who nonetheless expressed gratitude at warm support she continues to receive from the local community.
On the anniversary of Coutchie’s death, Sept. 21, the city plans to dedicate the sculpture “Eternal Legacy,” created by artists Gerard Stripling and Michele Taylor, at the entrance to the Police Department on Loma Terrace. The sculpture will be dedicated to the memory of Coutchie and Gordon French, who both lost their lives in the line of duty.
The recent CHP Major Traffic Accident Investigative Team has come in time to make a policy change.
When facts change, our minds must change.
LBPD must reexamine its current policy for high speed car pursuits. Far too many high speed car chases have occurred in our small community for DUI and other traffic violations which fail to take into consideration whether risk and loss of innocent human life is worth taking to pursue another moving violations. Two wrongs don’t make a right. The unnecessary risk to pedestrians, bicyclists & innocent drivers is far too great.
Honor your fallen officer who lost his life violating vehicle code for excessive speed over 30 MPH over the posted speed limit and broadsiding a truck with a 20 year old driver thereby risking the life of this young innocent driver.
A memorial wall plaque September 21,2014 should no longer be considered given the circumstances of officer negligence and risk he took with his own and lives of others.
There is no evidence to support speculative remarks by Jason Kravitz in press release that the officer was in pursuit of a speeding vehicle. No speeding vehicle was discovered or seen in the area by witnesses. No radio communication exists nor was officer directly responding to a 911 emergency to save a life.
Officer Coutchies death was preventable by following posted speed limits and carefully considering risk of innocent lives before engaging in high speed pursuit over the alleged moving violation and driver who was never found. What a waste of human life.
LBPD must reexamine the plaque and policy regarding risk of human life weighed against ticketing someone for some moving violation. Nobody can easily escape. We are rats in a predictable maze! It’s not necessary to have high speed chases with 3 ways in and out of town~roadblocks are a simple solution. You have 20 automatic license plate readers and numerous cameras in strategic locations. Be sensible~Use the tools you have at your disposal
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[…] baseball cap wears a slight smile, his facial expression radiating security and strength. Officer Jon Coutchie, the subject of the artist’s portrait, was killed in a traffic collision on Sept. 21, 2013, the […]
[…] An investigation concluded a year later indicated that a motorist, since identified as Chase Halaby, was primarily at fault in the collision for failing to yield the right-of-way while turning left into the oncoming path of Officer Coutchie. But it also indicated that Coutchie’s speed, at 30 M.P.H. over the posted limit, was a contributing factor. […]
[…] An investigation concluded a year later indicated that a motorist, since identified as Chase Halaby, was primarily at fault in the collision for failing to yield the right-of-way while turning left into the oncoming path of Officer Coutchie. But it also indicated that Coutchie’s speed, at 30 M.P.H. over the posted limit, was a contributing factor. […]
[…] Editor’s Note: The Indy as well as other local publications reported on the CHP’s findings. […]