Mexicali woman dies following accident at Calexico swap meet By SILVIO J. PANTA, Imperial Valley Press Staff writer
Thursday, October 18, 2007 4:14 PM PDT
TODD KRAININ PHOTO
A boy plays near the scene of a crash at Las Palmas Swap Meet in Calexico in which a car plowed into a crowd, injuring six people.
A 58-year-old Mexicali woman who was among eight people struck by a motorist at a Calexico swap meet died late Wednesday of her injuries.
The woman was identified as Estella Aguilar Jaramillo by Calexico police. She had been airlifted from El Centro Regional Medical Center to University of California San Diego Medical Center, where she died, a UCSD spokeswoman confirmed Thursday.
Jaramillo and seven other people were struck Wednesday morning when Ulices Guevara, 21, of Calexico drove through a crowded section of the outdoor marketplace as he suffered a seizure, Calexico police said.
Jaramillo’s 7-month-old grandchild was one of those struck by the car, Calexico police Lt. Jim Neujahr said. The infant suffered minor injuries.
Calexico police are investigating the accident as a criminal matter. A team of investigators with the California Highway Patrol is assisting by collecting evidence related to the case.
The criminal probe is being done as a matter of procedure, Neujahr said, to confirm whether there was any negligence involved.
It’s still too early to know the extent of Jaramillo’s injuries that led to her death, but a pending autopsy will reveal what they were as witnesses reported seeing her “thrown a distance,” Neujahr said.
Guevara, who works as a seasonal security guard at the Las Palmas Swap Meet, was going on his lunch break when the incident occurred, Neujahr said.
He has been placed on paid administrative leave until his employers determine what to do next, swap meet general manager Brenda Martinez said.
Jose Merida, a 47-year-old Los Angeles resident, Precilla Carduzo, 21, of Mexicali and Alva Bautista, 22, of Mexicali suffered minor to moderate injuries and were taken to area hospitals, Neujahr said.
Maria Del Rosario Bautista, 47, of Mexicali also was among those who were treated for minor injuries. Two other people complained of pain but were treated at the scene and released, police said.
Guevara was driving his late model Ford Escort through a section of the swap meet when he lost control and struck eight people. He veered toward a men’s restroom before coming to a stop at a vendor’s spot.
Guevara was taken to Pioneers Memorial Hospital in Brawley and later released.
While it is common for employees to drive through sections where customers walk, a 5 mph speed limit is strictly enforced, Martinez said.
Anyone caught violating the speed limit is “no longer allowed to go in (the swap meet) with their vehicle,” Martinez said.
Martinez said Wednesday’s tragedy was the first to occur at the swap meet in its 36-year history. She and the other employees were stunned when they learned the news, Martinez said.
“It was something that really shocked all of us,” Martinez said. “When I got here the ambulance and the (victims) were already gone.”
Guevara, Martinez said, had started working for the swap meet about a month ago He appeared fine when he clocked out, she said.
Guevara worked a 10-hour shift starting at 3 a.m. Wednesday, when the vendors come in and start unloading their goods, Martinez explained.
Whether all employees will be medically screened is among a number of things the swap meet directors will discuss in the future, Martinez said.
Martinez expressed sympathy for the victims who got struck.
“We’re just praying for them … that they come out of this fine,” she said.
" If you have ever had a seizure, you are not supposed to ever drive again, as your license will be revoked. If this is not his first seizure, then he was driving without a license and this, of course, turns into a criminal ofense. "
solar wrote on Oct 18, 2007 10:14 PM:
" I personally would't allowed cars inside a croweded place period. "
localmotion13 wrote on Oct 18, 2007 7:19 PM:
" the swapmeet should be sued for hiring employees without screening them, i wonder if there are other employees who are lacking proper id's etc.the swapmeet should be held accountable. "
serg98 wrote on Oct 18, 2007 6:30 PM:
" Las Palmas is an outdoor shoping mall. Vehicles are commong to roam inside the outdoor mall. I have personally experience almost getting hit by a Mexicali vehicle driving triple the speed limit while shopping inside Las Palmas. It is my understanding that Las Palmas charges a fee to enter with your vehicle inside Las Palmas. Who monitors or enforces these supposed "strict Speed limits"?
"
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gvg wrote on Oct 18, 2007 10:44 PM: