Firefighter Won’t Be Cited in Fatal Crash

Ventura County prosecutors have decided not to file criminal charges in the case of an Oxnard activist killed last year when his van was hit by a speeding city fire engine.

George Valle, 48, died of massive bodily trauma after his van was broadsided by the Oxnard fire engine May 8. The engine was responding to an emergency call.

Oxnard Firefighter Timothy Linman was driving the firetruck, which was racing through the intersection with its lights and sirens blaring when it collided with Valle’s van. Valle was attempting to make a left-hand turn.

According to Oxnard attorney Greg Ramirez, who is representing the Valle family in a wrongful death lawsuit, a prosecutor met with the family last week and informed them that charges would not be filed against Linman.

A preliminary police investigation indicated that Linman’s inattention and excessive speed contributed to the collision at Oxnard Boulevard and Colonia Road. But a final report indicated that there wasn’t enough evidence to support that conclusion. Another attorney for the family has suggested that the final report may have been altered.