Sheriff’s recruit in grave condition; one of 25 trainees hit by car in South Whittier
The car that hit South Whittier resident Michael Shufelt is on its side, the front of his body completely mangled and covered in wounds, according to authorities. A coroner’s report said Shufelt suffered a skull fracture, three broken ribs and internal bleeding and brain injuries. It said there was alcohol in his system, but that he was able to stand up.
The other victim, 20-year-old Matthew J. Thomas, was hit in the face by debris in the crash. Authorities have ruled his death an accident.
Investigators said Shufelt was a high schooler at the Whittier Career Center who had just started looking at colleges. Thomas was looking at college at the time of the crash.
Investigators are in talks with the Whittier Community Foundation to determine whether the organization should review its insurance coverage and whether it should pay for the two victims’ funerals.
Police said they are investigating the crash as an accident.
Sheriff’s deputies said the crash is being treated as an accident.
Sgt. Ron Hines said the crash is under investigation. He said the investigation will take approximately a week.
About a month ago, a man and a woman were killed and another person is in critical condition when their SUV crashed at the intersection.
A sheriff’s deputy was killed in a car-crash that took place in Whittier in December. It happened as a Sheriff’s Department trainee was conducting a driving skills class. The crash is under investigation and there may be charges.
A Whittier High student is in critical condition after a car crash Thursday morning.
The Sheriff’s Department says the crash happened about 1:15 a.m. at South Orange Street and Santa Fe Drive, a little over a mile from where the December crash left one person dead and another in critical condition.
Deputies said about two dozen people were in the car when it veered off the road and crashed into a tree. The person who died in the December crash is identified as 26-year-old