Sheriff holds on to crime employee's death report

The accident report for the death of a Stanislaus County crime scene technician is complete 10 months after her death, but the Sheriff's Department will not release details about the investigation.

Mary Donahou, 46, died Dec. 30 when she was struck by a car just before sunrise shortly after arriving at a home on Santa Fe Avenue in Hughson to investigate a shooting.

The California Highway Patrol's Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team completed the report Monday and handed it over to the Sheriff's Department, according to CHP officer Eric Parsons.

The CHP investigates all collisions that happen outside city limits. Donahou was struck and killed within the city of Hughson, which contracts for police services with the Sheriff's Department. Because Donahou was a sheriff's employee, the CHP agreed to conduct the investigation as a "courtesy," Parsons said.

He said Thursday he would not comment on the findings of the investigation, such as who was determined to be at fault. He deferred to the Sheriff's Department.

Sheriff Adam Christianson in June commissioned a "critical incident review" expected to cost $40,000 to $60,000. Consultants are analyzing Donahou's death and that of deputy Bob Paris, who was shot to death in April along with locksmith Glendon Engert while serving an eviction notice in Modesto.

Christianson said Thursday night that he has reviewed the Donahou accident report but would not release details about the investigation until the entire critical incident review is finalized. He said the unidentified consultants still are gathering information on both incidents.

Christianson said he maintains his promise that the review, including the accident report, will be released to the public upon its completion. He doesn't expect it to be finished until the end of the year.

Bee staff writer Erin Tracy can be reached at etracy@modbee.com or (209) 578-2366.