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Police arrest driver of fatal van crash
Police arrested last week the driver of a Toyota Sienna van that crashed into a power pole along As Perdido Road, killing a woman and her unborn 5-month-old baby.
Chang Hee Nam, 58, was arrested for vehicular homicide, reckless driving, speed limits, and safety belts on passenger vehicles.
Nam made his first court appearance on Friday. His bail was set at $10,000 cash.
Traffic investigator Norris Kwon stated in his report that the Toyota Sienna van crashed into a power pole along As Perdido Road last June 22. The incident was reported to police at 11am.
Kwon said the van, occupied by five persons, was traveling east when it lost control by the curve and crashed into the pole.
When Police Sgt. Anthony Macaranas arrived at the scene, he saw one conscious female passenger, one male infant crying in pain, and three unconscious passengers that were trapped in the van. Medics had to use the “Jaws of Life” tool to extricate the victims.
Nam, who was the driver, was unconscious. All occupants were not restrained, including the infant child. One female passenger seated on the third row had no pulse and had severe head injuries.
Tire marks could be seen on the wet pavement leading from a sharp curve of the highway to the final resting area of the van. Kwon calculated that the van was traveling at 55.29 miles per hour based on the tire marks.
The female passenger was pronounced dead on arrival at 12:16pm at the Commonwealth Health Center for severe head injuries. The four occupants, including Nam, were treated and admitted for serious injuries.
Traffic investigators determined that speed was the major cause of the crash, according to Department of Public Safety spokesman Travis Hurst. Hurst said the fatality was a 36-year-old Chinese national.
Nam, a Korean national, sustained a bruised left eye and a fractured jaw. The other passengers—a 30-year-old Chinese woman, complained of pain to the left hip, and a 2-year-old Chinese boy sustained a fractured left femur and abrasions on the forehead, shoulder, and temple.
The van had extensive damage on its driver’s side rear door.
