Man may be charged with manslaughter...

Man may be charged with manslaughter

The Laguna Beach Police Department announced that it will submit a

case to the Orange County District Attorney’s office involving the

death of John Higgins, Sr., 80, of Lake Forest.

Higgins passed away from injuries sustained from a traffic

collision on July 17.

“We will request that they review charges for vehicle

manslaughter,” said Sgt. Jason Kravetz.

If the district attorney proceeds with the case, Austin Roach,

19, of Fountain Valley could be charged. Kravetz expects to deliver

the case today.

The collision occurred on South Coast Highway at the intersection

of Eagle Rock Drive at 2:16 p.m. when Higgins stopped his Honda

motorcycle at a pedestrian crossing. Roach was driving a 1998 Ford

F-150 pick-up when he failed to stop before hitting the idle

motorcycle, according to police. They said Roach was traveling at 35

mph when he rear-ended Higgins.

The collision propelled Higgins off the motorcycle, said Kravetz,

causing multiple injuries including two broken femurs, three broken

ribs, a broken sternum and scrapes all over his body. He was able to

communicate with paramedics at the scene. Police said Roach was

traveling under the posted speed limit and was not under the

influence of alcohol or drugs. When he gave his statement to Officer

Tom Cusson he appeared very upset about the accident.

Higgins was transported to Mission Hospital where he was treated.

He passed away due to cardio respiratory failure on Aug. 11.

-- Mary A. Castillo

Young woman injured in rough surf

Lifeguards at Main Beach were kept busy with two major injuries

and yellow flag conditions on Wednesday.

At about 3 p.m. a 19 year-old Laguna resident went “over the

falls” and struck her head on the ocean floor, said Chief Mark

Klosterman of marine safety.

“She came up and self-extricated herself from the water,” he said.

“She felt tingling and numbing in her extremities.”

Lifeguards immediately responded with immobilization procedures

until paramedics arrived. They determined that the young woman

sustained a neurological injury. She was airlifted by Mercy Air to

Mission Hospital.

“We just hope this is a temporary condition and our hearts go out

to the victim and the family,” said Klosterman. “This can be a

life-altering injury and we’re holding our breath until we hear from

the family.”

The yellow flag conditions -- caused by storms in Mexico and New

Zealand -- keep lifeguards on the move. They performed 42 rescues and

300 preventive contacts on Wednesday.

“We advise swimmers to stay waist or knee deep,” Klosterman said.

“We do a tremendous amount of work to keep injuries like that from

happening.”

Although surf conditions are decreasing, the lifeguards will

continue to fly the yellow flag. Partly due to the department’s

proactive philosophy, there has not been a drowning on a guarded

beach since the 1970s.

A second incident involved a 30 year-old woman who experienced

severe respiratory distress after getting stung by a bee. Her husband

who was a firefighter escorted her to the Main Tower at 6 p.m. where

supervisors treated her.

Police escorted paramedics to South Coast Medical Center.

Klosterman confirmed that she was in stable condition.

-- Mary A. Castillo

Crescent Bay Beach closed after testing

Warning notices were posted at Crescent Bay Beach after a routine

water quality test showed excessive amounts of fecal chloroforms.

The water quality section of the Orange County Health Care Agency

performed the test last Thursday and signs were posted the following

day. After a follow-up test on Saturday that showed decreased levels,

the signs were removed Sunday afternoon. The bacteria is caused by

human or animal feces present in the water, said Larry Honeybourne,

program chief with the Orange County Health Care Agency.

“It could have been from a dog that defecated on the beach, a

flock of shorebirds whose fecal matter was washed into the water or a

small child who had a diaper accident just prior to the testing,” he

said.

Bacteria can also be caused by a sewage spill, however Steve May,

director of public works, confirmed that there is no sewer pipe in

the Crescent Bay area. No one reported illness after swimming at the

beach.

-- Mary A. Castillo