Cyclist killed in trailer accident
Another senseless and probably avoidable accident on the Western Highway occurred early this morning as well known cyclist, John “Shamba” Dominguez Sr. was killed while doing his usual morning ride. The catastrophe is all the more difficult for the family to bear because witnesses claim they were prevented from assisting the victim. They also believe the trailer that hit Dominguez was improperly attached. Janelle Chanona reports.
John Dominguez Jr., Son
“Today is my birthday — thirty-four years — and this is what I wake up to.”
The initial police report is that John Dominguez Sr. was riding on the Western Highway between miles fifteen and sixteen when one of two trailers being towed broke loose and hit him. The police say Dominguez died on the spot but eyewitnesses told John Jr. that his father was alive when they arrived at the scene.
John Dominguez Jr.
“The people that saw the accident, they say to me that my father could have been saved. They tried to help him and the police stop them from going down there, cause they saw him breathing, they saw him trying to crawl to get… But the police stop them and leave him right there waiting, over an hour and change for a photographer.”
A family friend says an eyewitness told him something equally disturbing.
Richard Foster, Family Friend
“They tell us the policemen went to try get the man. None of them wanted to walk down in the water, cause they said none a them wanted to get their boots wet up nor nothing.”
The police administration says they have yet to receive any negative reports about the actions of officers at the scene. The eyewitnesses are also alleging that the driver of the truck was driving so fast he didn’t realize he had lost one of his trailers.
Richard Foster
“They say the man was coming under a whole ball of speed with that trailer; he didn’t even know that trailer let loose till he jump the bridge and then they tell him that the trailer is off and right away he turn back. The man in the water dead.”
A young woman at the scene says the driver was concerned that the victim’s family might come after him.
Witness
“He ask we if we know the man’s family and we say no. He no want the man’s people come and harass he about nothing and try do he nothing.”
Q: “Did he notice that the trailer was coming off?”
Witness
“Yeah but he say he tie it with a piece of string and he never notice if it would do anybody anything. It was the man that made him turn back, make he come all the way back and tell him a man dead in the water.”
Janelle Chanona
“The family members of John Dominguez say the trailer was not properly connected to the trailer pulling it. They say this would have been connected to the truck and for safety reasons, these two chains would have been connected as well. This is called a brake hose; this would also have been connected to the truck. Because this is still tied to the truck and the safety chains are not broken, they think neither of these devices were used and… only this was supporting the trailer.” (showing tying wire)
Their accusation might have seemed incredible when personnel from Turnell Trucking Company came to pick up their trailer, they used tying wire to attach the same trailer to another truck.
As the truck made its way into town the family couldn’t help but wonder if the truck was tied in the same way when their father was killed.
John Dominguez Jr.
“My father can’t just go like that; my father don’t hurt nobody.”
Police have detained the driver of the truck, Israel Chi but have yet to charge him. Residents of the area say speeding is a big problem along that stretch of highway. Dominguez has competed in the Cross Country Cycling Classic for many years and was known to be the oldest rider.
