COSTA MESA : Council Rejects Claims in Fatal Crash

The City Council on Monday rejected more than $5.5 million in claims by several people who contended that a motorcycle police officer caused a crash in June in which two people were killed and others were injured.

Derick Romo, 26, of Moreno Valley was killed June 11 when his car crashed into another vehicle at the intersection of Ward Street and Slater Avenue. Scott Alden Whitson, a friend, was driving Romo’s car.

Whitson was ordered in August to stand trial on murder charges involving Romo’s death and the death of Janice Diehm, 46, of Fountain Valley, whose car was hit in the driver’s side by Romo’s car.

According to police, Whitson was traveling about 60 m.p.h. when the crash occurred.

Richard J. Hill, an attorney for Zacharia L. Antolin, who was injured in the crash, wrote that Whitson was scared because the motorcycle police officer did not use his siren while following Whitson, “therefore leaving his identity unknown and causing those in (Romo’s car) to fear for their safety and thus attempt to flee an unknown assailant.”

But Costa Mesa Sgt. Tom Winter, who commands the traffic division, said Wednesday that the motorcycle police officer did not have his siren or lights on and was not in pursuit of the vehicle.