Simi Valley Teen-Ager Dies After Go-Cart Crash

A Simi Valley teen-ager died Sunday night after crashing his motorized go-cart into the rear of a parked camper truck, authorities said.

Jason Speirs, 17, suffered massive head and upper-body trauma and died at 7:13 p.m. at Simi Valley Hospital, according to Simi Valley Police Sgt. Joe Loniero.

A neighbor who lives near the crash scene in the 6300 block of Melia Street said Speirs was traveling at high speed when he struck the back of the truck. Speirs is believed to have lived on Melia Street, police said.

“It was very dark out at the time of the accident. He had a flashlight but apparently it wasn’t enough,” said Katherine Grandchamp. “From what we can tell, he hit the back at full speed and slid partially under the camper.”

Simi Valley Police Lt. Neal Rein said the accident occurred in front of 6386 Melia St. shortly before 6:30 p.m. Speirs was rushed to Simi Valley Hospital, where he died in the emergency room.

Grandchamp said two of her neighbors, who both have training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, administered CPR until paramedics arrived.

“They worked on him for a long time, but they told me they couldn’t get a pulse,” Grandchamp said. “He was just an average, good kid who happened to like go-carts. We would always warn him and his friends to be careful because of the traffic. It’s just a tragedy.”