Crash kills man, hurts son

Truck flips onto playground; friends raise seizure possibility

By EMILIE RAGUSO
eraguso@modbee.com

last updated: September 25, 2008 05:15:24 PM

A man was killed and his son critically injured Tuesday morning when he lost control of his pickup, which flew into a tree and overturned, landing in an east Modesto playground, officials said.

The Police Department identified the man as Leland Leon Davis, 39, of Modesto.

Authorities are trying to determine what caused the crash. The posted speed limit in the area is 25 mph. But several of Davis' friends said they believe he had a seizure.

Pam Beraz, who said Davis was her best friend, said he started having seizures after suffering a head injury several years ago.

Davis' 5-year-old son was removed from the pickup in six minutes and taken to Memorial Medical Center. The boy suffered major internal injuries and a broken leg and later was flown to the University of California Medical Center in Sacramento, police said. He was in fair condition Tuesday night, a hospital spokesman said.

The boy was belted into a booster seat, police said.

It took longer for emergency crews to remove Davis, Modesto Police Sgt. Brian Findlen said. He was pronounced dead in the truck. Davis also was wearing a seat belt.

Witnesses told police the white Toyota pickup was speeding north on McGuire Drive, near Oakdale Road and East Orangeburg Avenue, when it veered off the road.

The pickup flew 10 to 20 feet into the air and hit a tree before coming to rest near playground equipment at Sonoma Park. There were several children in the playground, but none was injured, police said.

The coroner's office performed an autopsy Tuesday and a toxicology screening will be performed, which is standard procedure, Findlen said. Davis' cause of death was not available Tuesday night.

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Before police arrived, neighbors rushed to the crash to help.

Joel Martin, 26, of Modesto was lying in bed about 8 a.m. He had just called in sick to work and was thinking about making a doctor's appointment.

Martin's bedroom window faces east onto McGuire, he said. He heard a vehicle coming down his street, its engine getting louder as it accelerated toward the park.

"Once it had passed my house, I expected to hear brakes and tires squealing," he said. "Instead, I heard more acceleration. I heard the first thud and I heard a loud bang. I grabbed a pair of pants and ran outside."

Boy took neighbor's hand

Martin, followed by his girlfriend, Danyelle Rhoy, saw smoke coming from the park. They ran to the truck, which was "pretty smashed up."

"I didn't hear anything at first. Then we heard a child crying," he said. The roof of the truck had been smashed, so Martin and Rhoy couldn't see the little boy in the back seat. The boy was crying for his father. He said he was on the way to school. After a few minutes, Rhoy was able to calm the child down.

"He was quiet, but when my girlfriend would ask him a question he was responding. He said his name was Logan, how old he was, that his favorite color was yellow," he said.

A neighbor on the other side of the truck was able to reach inside, "and Logan found his hand," Martin said.

Martin and the others shouted into the truck to see whether they could get a response from the driver.

"Hello, can you hear us?" they shouted. "Are you OK?"

But when Martin looked in front, it was clear the driver was not all right. The dashboard and steering column had been pushed toward the driver's seat. The windshield was covered with blood. The neighbors turned their attention to keeping the boy calm.

When emergency workers pulled the boy out, he had a large red bruise on his forehead and bruises on his legs, Martin said.

"It's amazing that the boy's alive at all. That truck was so smashed in the back," he said. "At this point, I'm glad Logan survived. I hope that he's able to pull through and that he has some family in the area."

Davis' relatives in Modesto declined to comment, but a cousin e-mailed The Bee when she read about the accident online.

"I will tell you he is/was a wonderful person -- always making us laugh," wrote Linda Fields of Spokane, Wash., who said she had not been in touch with her cousin for several years. "I'm sure something went wrong -- I can't believe he would have been driving recklessly with his son in the truck. Not Leland."

Bee staff writer Emilie Raguso can be reached at eraguso@modbee.com or 578-2235.

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