Manslaughter charges urged in fatal crash

The California Highway Patrol has recommended that vehicular manslaughter charges be filed against the driver of a big rig that slammed into the back of a minivan in May, killing three young siblings from Ladera Ranch, finding that he was driving too fast on the Santa Ana Freeway.

Officer Chris Goodwin said today that the CHP forwarded the results of its crash investigation to the Orange County district attorney’s office last week. Goodwin would not disclose details of the report, including the speed at which Jorge Miguel Romero was believed to have been traveling.

Authorities had previously found that neither alcohol nor drugs played a role in the May 4 accident.

Romero, 37, of Apple Valley, told police he was traveling 55 to 60 mph in the southbound slow lane on Interstate 5 in Mission Viejo when traffic suddenly halted and he couldn’t stop in time to avoid plowing into the back of the Coble family’s minivan. State law requires drivers to travel at a speed that is reasonable for conditions including weather, visibility, traffic and width of the highway.

Romero was not hurt in the crash. Kyle Coble, 5, and his sisters Emma, 4, and Katie, 2, died the same day from their injuries. Their mother, Lori Coble, 30, and the children’s grandmother, Cynthia Maestri, 60, were badly injured and hospitalized for days.

Romero could not be reached. He was suspended indefinitely as a driver for KW Express, a Carson-based company that owned the tractor trailer he was driving, according to company spokesman Bill Furlow.

“This further underscores the tragedy that has befallen the Coble family,” the company said in a statement Wednesday.

“Our hearts continue to ache for them every day and also for Mr. Romero and his family, whose lives have also been changed forever.”

The crash prompted the U.S. Department of Transportation to inspect KW Express’ facilities and operations.

Fifteen safety violations were found, including failure to properly file and maintain vehicle inspection reports.

The only violation that dealt directly with the crash involving Romero was that the company failed to require him to take a drug and alcohol test afterward. Under guidelines, an alcohol test should have been administered within eight hours and a drug test within 32 hours. Company officials thought Romero did not have to be tested because he passed breath and blood tests administered by the CHP after the accident.

When the report became public earlier this summer, the Transportation Department said KW Express was making an effort to meet federal guidelines and had until mid-September to appeal or bring its operations into full compliance.

At that time, the company said it was not contesting the findings and that it had addressed every issue raised, and welcomed the government’s next inspection.

Coble family attorney Jeoffrey L. Robinson could not be reached Wednesday.

Shortly after the accident, Robinson said the children’s parents were exploring legal actions against Romero, the trucking company and Caltrans.

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christine.hanley@latimes.com