Corona del Mary Today: Bus incident will not result in criminal charges
The Orange County district attorney’s office has rejected a criminal case against the owner of a party bus that was transporting Corona del Mar High School students when one fell from the moving vehicle onto the 73 toll road.
“The case was rejected pending further investigation,” Chris Kim, a district attorney’s office spokesman, said in an email.
The investigation resulted from the June 7 incident, when the senior fell from the rented bus, which was headed to a prom at the Arroyo Trabuco Golf Course in Mission Viejo.
Charlotte Boyse, 18, was one of 58 students on the bus, which was traveling on the 73 toll road south of Newport Coast Drive when she fell. According to a California Highway Patrol news release, the bus was traveling 35 to 40 mph, and Boyse was standing and dancing on a seat bench when she leaned against a window and it opened, causing her to fall into the middle of the road. She then ran to the center divider.
Boyse was treated at a hospital for scrapes and a bruised tailbone. According to an accident report, the “cause of this collision was other than the driver.”
Boyse has recovered from her injuries and is now attending a university out of state.
The bus, operator, LPB Inc., had been sent two cease-and-desist letters from the California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates party buses. On Feb. 8, 2013, the CPUC denied the company its Charter Class B Certificate, and in June, a PUC spokesman said it is not legal to operate a party bus without the certificate.
A party bus is a large vehicle that has been modified to carry a group of people purely for recreational purposes. Party buses may offer amenities such as sound systems, laser lights and dance floors.
The company owner, David Leon, has a pending application for a company called Leon Limo Bus, online records state.
“LBP has a license application that is pending, which means the permit has not yet been granted and is still under review, but the company cannot provide service to the public until the permit is granted,” Christopher Chow, a PUC spokesman, said in an email.
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Big Canyon Reservoir storage building is underway
Construction of storage buildings is underway at the Big Canyon Reservoir auxiliary yard, according to a city memo.
In June, the Newport Beach City Council approved a $1.1 million contract for the project, a satellite supply and storage facility for field crews working in the easterly portion of the city, a city staff report said.
“Construction of the masonry storage garages are well underway, with the concrete floors poured and the walls and dry/wet utilities installed,” a city memo states. “
Construction is expected to continue through mid-January, with landscaping to be installed and complete by spring.
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Traffic delays possible at Newport Coast Drive
Electronic message boards in Corona del Mar are warning of possible traffic delays on Tuesday and Wednesday at East Coast Highway and Newport Coast Drive.
The warnings are related to Newport Beach’s traffic signal modernization project, said Tara Finnigan, a city spokeswoman.
“Crews will be rewiring the signals on October 21 and 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” she said. “Public Works expects this to cause some traffic delays and is recommending motorists use alternate routes when possible.
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Child cyber-trafficking panel planned
St. Mark Presbyterian Church will host a free presentation on how to keep children safe from cyber trafficking from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 29.
“Child Cyber Trafficking: Why Your Child/Teen is At Risk” will offer parents and caregivers tips on how to detect the signs of online danger and how to respond if their children are victimized, according to a news release. The event will be a non-religious presentation for adults only.
Speakers will include Sandra Morgan, director of Vanguard University’s Global Center for Women and Justice, and retired Deputy Chief Derek Marsh, who served with the Westminster Police Department for more than 26 years.
A question-and-answer session will be held after the presentations.
St. Mark Presbyterian Church is located at 2200 San Joaquin Hills Road, Newport Beach. For more information, call (949) 644-1341.
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CdM chamber to host networking luncheon
The Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce will host a networking luncheon Tuesday featuring yoga guru and motivational speaker Anthony Chavez.
The luncheon costs $25 for members and $30 for guests and includes lunch, networking opportunities and the program, called “Anatomy of Results.”
Check-in and networking from 11:30 a.m. to noon will be followed by the program and lunch until 1:15 p.m. at Five Crowns Restaurant, 3801 East Coast Hwy.
Participants also can donate a prize for an opportunity drawing. For more information or to reserve a spot, call (949) 673-4050.
Corona del Mar Today appears Sunday in the Daily Pilot. Read daily updates at coronadelmartoday.com.