Firetruck Rams Van, Killing Oxnard Activist

An Oxnard fire engine racing to the scene of a fire with lights on and sirens blaring rammed into a van Wednesday, killing its driver, a well-known community activist.

George Valle, 48, died at the scene of the 12:39 p.m. collision at Oxnard Boulevard and Colonia Road.

The three firefighters were uninjured and rushed to the aid of Valle, a board member of the Boys & Girls Club of Oxnard.

“It’s everybody’s worst nightmare when you operate a large piece of equipment,” said Oxnard Firefighter Jeff Davis, who responded to the accident and works at Station 1 along with the firefighters involved in the crash.

“You never want to see this happen. . . . We at the station are all feeling the effects of this. People have to remember the old adage, ‘Pull to the right for sirens and lights.’ ”

Oxnard police said an investigation is underway to determine who was at fault and how fast the vehicles were traveling. Information on traffic lights was unavailable Wednesday.

Oxnard police closed Oxnard Boulevard from Gonzales Road to 5th Street for nearly seven hours Wednesday after the crash, reopening it about 7 p.m.

In the meantime, the reported grass fire, which turned out to be smoldering wood chips, had been put out by people in the area.

Valle’s beige Ford Aerostar van was turning left from Colonia Road onto Oxnard Boulevard when it was hit by Oxnard fire engine No. 1 as it was traveling north on Oxnard Boulevard, said Oxnard Police Officer Tom Chronister.

“There was a real, real big bang, a bang so loud, it just tore my insides out,” said Josie Guerra, who works at a used-car lot on Oxnard Boulevard. “The next thing I saw was the fire truck bouncing across the divider and along the curb until it came to a stop.”

The van went out of control, coming to a stop facing south and jutting into the northbound lanes of Oxnard Boulevard.

The yellow fire engine, driven by eight-year Firefighter Tim Linman, crossed over Oxnard Boulevard’s concrete center divider into the southbound lanes, striking a truck and skidding back across the median and landing more than a block away on the northbound shoulder facing north.

Valle, who was born in Oxnard and grew up in the Colonia neighborhood, was active in the Boys & Girls Club of Oxnard and was a fund-raiser for the Ventura College basketball team.

Valle played basketball at Oxnard High School and Nordhoff High School, from which he graduated in 1967. He then played for the Ventura College team.

After living for a time in Northern California, he returned about four years ago to Oxnard, where he worked as an employment program representative for the state Employment Development Department.

“He was a very caring and supportive person and very community-oriented,” said Cathy McGraw, assistant manager of the job services office. “This is a very big loss for all of us.”

Valle escaped injury in December 1993 when an unemployed engineer entered the employment office in Oxnard, blasting his 12-gauge shotgun and killing three people and injuring four others. Valle was standing about 15 feet from one of the victims.

Valle volunteered with the Boys & Girls Club of Oxnard, which he had attended as a teen. He was scheduled to go to the national Boys & Girls Club convention in Las Vegas next week with Oxnard club Executive Director Abe Oliveras.

“He wanted to give back to the club what it gave to him as a youth,” Oliveras said. “He is really going to be missed. He was a spark plug. He gave his heart and soul to the Boys & Girls Club.”

Oxnard City Councilman Tom Holden, president of the Boys & Girls Club board, said Wednesday that Valle was an asset to the group, having organized fund-raisers as well as a camping trip and other activities for the youth.

“He was a board member who got things done,” Holden said. “Whether there was a barbecue, auction or whatever project, he was willing to participate. He was really committed. It’s a real tragedy.”

Valle helped Mark Delgado, a former gang member who founded the Ventura-based Save Our Youth, with the gang intervention and arbitration program and with encouragement to go to college.

“He must be remembered for what he did to help people,” Delgado said. “He was a person of integrity, and he could always put a smile on your face even if you were having the saddest day.”

Valle is survived by his wife, Aileen Valle, and three daughters, Primavera, 20, Jema, 18, and Erica, 8.

A George Valle memorial fund has been set up to help the family. Donations may be sent to the fund in care of the Boys & Girls Club of Oxnard, P.O. Box 220, Oxnard, 93032.