Off-Duty Sheriff’s Deputy Crashes Into Fillmore Starbucks, Kills Ex-Marine
Investigators and bystanders survey the scene where an SUV crashed into a Fillmore Starbucks.
An ex-Marine was killed on Tuesday when an off-duty sheriff's deputy crashed his SUV into a Fillmore Starbucks.
According to police reports, 30-year-old Michael Cedarland apparently lost control of his 2007 Chevy Taho and plowed into the building located in the 600 block of Ventura Street just after 7 p.m. The victim, Sergio Mendez, also 30, was pinned between the vehicle and a wall. Other customers inside the Starbucks attempted to come to his aid but firefighters had to use the jaws of life to free him.
Mendez was transported to Ventura County Medical Center, where he died a short time later during surgery. Two other customers, 25-year-old Jose Iraheta of Lancaster and 73-year-old Thomas Michaels of Piru, suffered only minor injuries. Cedarland was also taken to the hospital but suffered no injuries as a result of the car accident.
According to authorities, Cedarland claimed he was on his way home when he fell asleep at the wheel. Sheriff's deputies reported that he did not appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time the fatal car crash occurred. The Ventura County sheriff's office is continuing to investigate what caused the accident.
The Starbucks, along with a nearby Little Caesar's Pizza, has been red-tagged, meaning the structures have been deemed too dangerous to enter.
This unfortunate incident demonstrates that a fatal car accident can occur anywhere and at any time. Should police determine that the driver in this case caused Mr. Mendez's death through negligent or careless behavior, he may face criminal charges for his actions.
In addition to criminal penalties, he may also face civil consequences if the victim's family chooses to file a wrongful death lawsuit against him. Hopefully, they will consult an experienced Ventura County personal injury attorney regarding their rights.
If you or a loved one has been seriously hurt or killed as a result of a car accident caused by someone else's reckless actions, you may also have grounds for a personal injury claim. The law firm of Nadrich & Cohen specializes in assisting car accident victims in the Los Angeles area and throughout California in getting the compensation they deserve for their medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.
Call our Injury Hotline today at 1-800-722-0765 to speak with a member of our car accident injury team. Your initial consultation is free and there is never a fee unless we recover a judgment on your behalf. Call now to get the experienced legal representation you need to prove your California car accident injury case.
