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Man blamed for deadly crash identified

October 11, 2011

Jeffrey LaChance

Officers arrested 55-year-old Jeffrey LaChance of Paso Robles for allegedly causing an accident that left one woman dead Monday afternoon.

LaChance was driving northbound on Highway 1 south of Hearst Castle when he attempted to pass a tour bus. He clipped the bus and crashed head on into a Toyota Camry.

A female passenger in the Camry was killed and the male driver is in a coma. Both are from Pennsylvania.

Officers booked LaChance into San Luis Obispo County Jail on charges of vehicular homicide with gross negligence.


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I’v seen Motorcycles going 80 to 100 mph all along Hwy 1.


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I’ve … LOL…


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The speed limit along highway 1 is 55 miles per hour…! ! !

Tour buses usually go 55 to 60 mph…So it appears that LaChance was in a hurry to go nowhere!


I’m seen Motorcycles going 80 to 100 mph all along Hwy 1.


State law provides that, unless otherwise posted, the maximum speed limit is 55 mph (about 88 kph) on two-lane undivided highways such as Highway 1 in the Big Sur region. Do not drive faster than is safe under the road and weather conditions. The maximum safe speed may be slower than the posted speed limit.

http://jrabold.net/bigsur/drive.htm


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As a commercial driver I see this kind of driver everyday, slow down, be careful, pay attention and you MAY make it home. It’s not worth it !!!!!


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What a tragedy for all , I am curious , does anyone know if there is a double solid yellow lines on this piece of highway ? The two people hurt in the other car , were they wearing seat belts ?


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Years ago, one of my employees was going 5 miles over the speed limit (according to some dimwit chp) and came around a turn to see a small tractor in his way. He slammed on his brakes and went into the other lane getting in a head on with another vehicle. The other driver went to the hospital but was fine. My employee never got charged with even a speeding ticket. So what gives here?


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There is a difference from my perspective. If he came around a corner to find an obstruction in the road and didn’t have time to react then it was clearly an accident that didn’t involve negligence. 5 miles over the speed limit really doesn’t rise to negligence in my opinion, also I doubt that 5 miles over could have made a difference.


Passing on a dangerous road without a clear indication that there are no oncoming vehicles, pedestrians etc is negligent and the possibility of causing an accident and serious injury was foreseeable. I’m not familiar with the area he was in but depending on the road, I think this could clearly become a criminal act of gross negligence. IMHO ;)


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Ah, someone died . dah!


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I seriously doubt that he had a blatant disregard for others like the kid who ran off the road in Pismo. He made a poor decision to pass but I seriously doubt that he thought he wouldn’t make it. Bad accident, yes. However this is more like failure to exercise reasonable caution/care. Sorry, but another case of over-zealous filing DAs trying to fill the judges quota and overcharge the actual crime. Don’t get me wrong, he has serious civil liability coming but to try and put him away for 10 years is just plain wrong. If he was intoxicated, then that is a different story. Please don’t use my tax dollars for this trial. Save it for the civil case.


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At the very least he should be deported…….Oh, wait.


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Why does it always seem to be the case that the idiots who pass on dangerous roads and wreck always survive yet the poor people that are just trying to get somewhere are they ones that die?


Here’s hoping they throw the book at him and the family of the victims sue him for every dime he has.


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It makes me very sad to see how quick you are to want to “throw the book” at someone who made a bad mistake. Don’t get me wrong this was a horrible accident where both families are going to suffer. But let’s try to remember what Jesus said about he who is without sin, cast the first stone. I for one am not that person, since I have made mistakes when driving (speeding, pulling out when I thought it was clear and yes passing when I probably shouldn’t have)and I am very thankful and lucky that no one has ever been hurt or as in this case killed.


If you have NEVER made a mistake in life, then congratulations you are the first person I know of who has passed PERFECT SCHOOL!!!


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Sounds like LaChance was in a hurry. Nobody likes to be stuck behind a slow-moving tour bus on Hwy 1–been there, experienced that! But foolishly passing on Hwy 1–just to get somewhere 3 or 4 minutes more quickly–obviously wasn’t worth it. Sad story. A good reminder for all of us (especially ME) to slow down.


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UH OH……ME too !


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