Paint-ball pellets not cause of death

Paul Clinton

The death of a Newport Beach man as he skated along Back Bay Drive

in March was an accident and not the result of an attack by

paint-ball enthusiasts, police said Thursday.

An Orange County coroner’s report delivered Saturday included the

finding about Gary Holdren’s death, Newport Beach Sgt. Steve Shulman

said.

“The conclusion was just recently drawn,” Shulman said. “Absent

any additional information, this case is closed.”

The 54-year-old Holdren fell and hit his head at about 1:15 p.m.

March 24, a Sunday, as he was in-line skating.

He survived the crash for a little more than two weeks but lay in

a coma at Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center until April 9,

when he was taken off life support. He had been pronounced brain dead

the previous day.

Immediately after Holdren’s accident, police began investigating

whether he had been hit by paint-ball pellets as he skated along the

Back Bay. Several witnesses said they saw teenagers shooting

paint-ball pellets in the area. Also, fresh paint was found on

Holdren’s clothing and near the place he fell.

Police announced preliminary autopsy results at the time of

Holdren’s death that showed that the heart-valve salesman and

resident of Park Newport was not struck by a paint-ball pellet.

On Thursday, Shulman reiterated that paint was splattered on the

pavement and on a road sign before Holdren’s fall. Shulman said

Holdren probably rolled into the fresh paint, Shulman said.

When the accident occurred, police first believed Holdren’s

swollen right eye could be the result of being hit by a pellet. They

now believe the impact of the fall caused the injury internally.

The swelling occurred as a result of a “massive skull fracture”

when he fell backward, police said. Holdren’s skull was cracked from

the back of his head, across the top and to his right and left eye

sockets, police said.

The serious brain injury that left him in a medically induced coma

for two weeks ultimately caused his death.

In both April and May, investigators returned to the section of

Back Bay where Holdren fell to test paint-ball guns, Shulman said.

Pellets were fired from various types of guns to determine the

possible trajectory of any shots that might have hit him.

Calls to Holdren’s girlfriend, Bonita Young, were not returned by

press time.

Holdren is survived by his daughter, Kristie, who lives in Aliso

Viejo, and brother Mark, a resident of Pittsfield, N.Y.

Kristie Holdren also could not be reached for comment.

* PAUL CLINTON covers the environment and politics. He may be

reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at paul.clinton@- latimes.com.