Investigation clears Kuna Police involved in pursuit prior to fatal crash
KUNA, Idaho (CBS2) — Kuna police were involved in a brief vehicle pursuit with Ruben Garcia on July 31 when he caused a crash on Idaho 69 by hitting a pickup truck head-on. The crash resulted in the deaths of Garcia and the driver of the pickup truck, 28-year-old Jonathan Calderon.
An Ada County Critical Incident Task Force (CITF) investigation found Garcia, a 34-year-old Caldwell man, who drove his Nissan Altima into oncoming traffic last summer, had a .214 Blood Alcohol Content level, which is twice the legal limit of .08.
The CITF investigated the fatal crash and determined Kuna Police had a lawful and justified reason to try to stop Garcia. Garcia’s driving was “reckless,” including that he was drunk, driving in excess of 100 mph while not maintaining his lane of traffic and not having his headlights on before the crash.
There was no evidence Kuna Police broke any laws during the pursuit.
An internal investigation drew the same conclusion and determined the officers followed all Kuna Police and Ada County Sheriff’s Office policies during the incident.
Kuna Police got involved in the brief vehicle pursuit with Garcia just before midnight on July 31. Meridian Police first attempted a traffic stop on Garcia, who was seen driving erratically near Meridian Road/the E Central Dr area.
Reports indicate Garcia took off and began driving the wrong way on Main Street and then went south on Meridian Road at a high rate of speed towards Kuna.
Meridian Police began a pursuit, eventually calling it off as the Nissan crossed Lake Hazel Road and into Kuna Police jurisdiction. Meridian Police informed Kuna Police the Nissan was heading their way.
A Kuna Police officer was stopped at Columbia Road when the Nissan went by. That officer turned on his emergency lights and began following the Nissan.
Another Kuna Police officer put down spike strips across Meridian Road near the Deer Flat Road intersection, but Garcia was able to drive around those and kept going south.
It was shortly after then when Garcia lost control of his car and drove into oncoming traffic resulting in a head-on collision with the pickup truck, causing the death of Jonathan Calderon.
ncG1vNJzZmihlJa1sLrEsKpnm5%2BifK%2Bx1qxmpaeTlrlwr8itnWahnquytMDIoJitoZ%2BjeqS4xJqprGWbqruiec%2Boo6KblWK2r8LOpa2enF2eu2681KuqrqGkYq%2Bmss6rnGaekamurXnCmqlmm6KWwKk%3D