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Local Rancho Family Destroyed by Fatal Auto Accident |
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Thursday, 08 March 2007 |
FONTANA/ RANCHO CUCAMONGA
By Cheryl Brown
A family was destroyed when the car they were riding in was
hit by a truck at Base Line Road
and East Street
on the Rancho Cugumonga and Fontana
border. Three members of a five member family were killed. The community is
outraged that nothing has been done to an intersection that is so dangerous.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday for Dwayne, 17,
Lindel, 53 and Jonathan Fields, 51, at West Angeles C.O.G.I.C. where they were
dedicated members.
According to Fontana Police chief Larry Clark, his Multiple
Accident Investigative Team (MAIT) is still investigating the accident. "It
seems to be a terrible accident. The Fields family was traveling northbound on East Street and had
the green light and a Ford F150 traveling east bound in the #1 traffic lane on Base Line Road ran
the red light and struck the Mustang driven by the Fields. Father and son were
pronounced dead at the scene," said Clark.
Lindel, the mother was rushed to Arrowhead
Regional Center
in Colton where
she was on life support for a week before succumbing to her injuries that
reportedly included two broken legs, a broken arm and internal injuries.
Reports are also that the Fields' family sometimes attended
Life Church of God In Christ in Rubidoux and that Pastor Ron and wife Lavette
Gipson were broadsided when they were on the way to the hospital to see about
Lindel. They were trapped, their car totaled and they were removed by the "jaws
of life". However they were unhurt and were able to resume their duties.
Clark also said that the
case has been turned over to the D.A.'s office for a review that may take
several weeks. "There is no indication on the day of the accident that alcohol
was involved. The DA could make a determination that there is negligence but
sometimes accidents occur and someone is not paying attention, it doesn't rise
to negligence," he said.
Community members feel the intersection is the problem. "I
live two blocks from that intersection and I know of twelve accidents in recent
months. It is unsafe and if we do anything it is to bring attention to the
authorities to fix this bad intersection," said Pastor Phyromn Gilmer of the
Living Word Life Changing Ministries.
The Fields left two other children, Payton, 15, and Jordan,
9, who were not in the car with the family. Lindel's sister Paulette Anderson
is in charge of the children.
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