Update: Turlock minor detained in connection with collision that killed basketball coach
A 17-year-old Turlock boy was detained Thursday on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter in connection with the death of Turlock High School basketball coach Johnathan Williams, according to the Turlock Police Department.
Williams was killed in a three-vehicle collision while on his way to a basketball tournament at Pitman High School on Dec. 29. The vehicle Williams was in, driven by his 19-year-old son, was turning left from West Christoffersen Parkway onto North Kilroy Road when another vehicle, driven by the juvenile, collided with it.
Documents acquired by The Bee state the 2016 Toyota Camry driven by the boy, who was 16 at the time of the crash, was going about 98 mph in a 40 mph zone.
“The family would like to thank the outstanding work of all agencies involved with this terrible and senseless tragedy. Particularly the Turlock Police Department and Officer [Richard] Fortado,” read a statement provided by Adam Stewart, the attorney representing Williams’ family. “The family appreciate the prayers and support during this very difficult time. We hope justice will be served and reckless and grossly negligent drivers are held responsible for the consequences of their conduct.”
The boy was detained as a juvenile, but it is possible he could be tried as an adult due to the severity of the alleged crime and the fact that he was over the age of 16 at the time. However, this is unlikely given the criteria needed to do so, according to the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office.
A DA’s Office spokesman could not confirm whether the boy remains in custody.
Details of the collision
A 254-page final report by the Turlock Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team, provided to The Bee, includes investigation details, crash data and a search warrant. The report indicates that the juvenile was trying to “beat the light” just prior to colliding with the 2018 Dodge Journey in which Williams was a passenger.
At the same time, Williams’ son, who was driving the Dodge, was attempting to turn left while he had “all-green circular lights” as he approached the intersection, the report says.
The lights turned yellow but Williams’ son said he felt the approaching cars were far away enough for him to make the turn, according to his statements to officers at the scene. Williams’ son said his father yelled, “Watch out,” just before impact.
The third vehicle involved was a Cadillac Escalade stopped at the red light on southbound North Kilroy. It was struck by the Toyota after its initial impact with the Dodge.
Of the seven people listed as parties in the collision, four were transported with either “possible” or “minor” injuries. Williams was the only one to suffer a fatal injury. He was pronounced dead at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma.
One investigator’s opinion was that Williams’ vehicle “would likely have already turned into the Pitman High School parking lot and would have been parked” by the time the Toyota reached the intersection if it had been going “at or around” the speed limit.
The Toyota was westbound on West Christoffersen Parkway at about 94 mph 4.6 seconds before the collision, the report says. A couple of seconds later, the driver sped up to 98 mph before letting off the accelerator and applying the brakes. The speed at the exact moment of collision was listed as 60 miles per hour, according to data taken from the vehicle by investigators.
Investigators determined that all parties involved were wearing their seat belts at the time of the collision except for the two boys in the speeding Toyota.
During an interview with the juvenile passenger at Pitman High School a few weeks after the collision, police informed him they knew the boys weren’t wearing seat belts. He responded by stating that he “was very lucky.”
One investigator noted that the driver of the Toyota had been “regularly driving at higher speeds, making abrupt turning maneuvers, braking vigorously and losing traction with the front and rear of the vehicle.”
The driving style of the vehicle before the collision was described as having “zero regard for the safety of passengers, other motorists and the community as a whole.”
This story was originally published February 16, 2024 at 1:19 PM.
