CHP Press Release:

Following an extensive investigation into a tragic traffic collision in May that claimed the life of a 13 year old juvenile, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Humboldt Area office has submitted charges on the driver to the District Attorney’s office for misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter and other associated charges. 

The single vehicle traffic collision occurred on May 18, 2013, when 19 year old Cashkoa Jade Rice of Hoopa was driving her Jeep Cherokee westbound on State Route 299 near Berry Summit while transporting five passengers.  Rice diverted her attention away from the roadway to manipulate her cell phone, causing her to lose control of the vehicle and subsequently collide into a guardrail along the south side of the roadway.  The impact caused one of the passengers, 13 year old Walter Moon of Hoopa, who was unbelted in the rear cargo area of the vehicle, to be fully ejected.  Moon suffered major injuries as a result.  Moon was ultimately flown to Children’s Hospital in Oakland, where he succumbed to his injuries the following day.  Rice was uninjured as a result of the traffic collision and the remaining passengers sustained minor to moderate injuries. 

“We want to point out that this tragedy was one hundred percent preventable,” said California Highway Patrol Humboldt Area Commander, Captain Adam Jager.  “This is a reminder that driving distracted and not using seatbelts can result in injury, and even death.  In this case, it resulted in the tragic loss of a child.” 

The ensuing investigation into this traffic collision by the CHP Humboldt Area included assistance by the CHP’s Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT).  The investigation resulted in charges submitted against Rice for misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter as well as operating a vehicle with an unbelted juvenile occupant and operating a hand-held cell phone while driving a motor vehicle.  The charges were submitted to the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office on Friday, November 15. 

“We are saddened by this tragic loss and we are going to do what we can to ensure this type of tragedy doesn’t happen again,” Jager said. 

The CHP reminds drivers that distracted driving is a leading cause of traffic collisions today.  Modern technology has created potential distractions including cell phones, GPS devices, and tablet computers that, when our attention is diverted to these devices for even a few seconds, can result in this type of tragedy.  The CHP advises all motorists to eliminate distractions in order to keep their attention on their driving and ultimately avoid a traffic collision.