Pedicab Accident kills Illinois Tourist
July 7, 2009
Downtown San Diego – A 23- year old pedicab driver from Turkey may face manslaughter charges after driving erratically that resulted in the death of an Illinois tourist, The San Diego Police Department said.
The victim was identified as Sharon Miller, a 60-year old retired teacher from Sherman Village, Ill.
Officials said that Miller was in town with her husband, who was attending the National Education Conference in the San Diego Convention Center.
According to reports, Miller who was riding with a friend apparently fell out of the pedicab and hit her head on the ground. The accident transpired in the Martin Luther King Promenade which is on the north side of the trolley tracks and parallel to Harbor Drive.
She was brought to UCSD Medical Center where she was pronounced brain dead Sunday. Her family chose to keep her on life support pending organ donation.
Police Spokeswoman Monica Muñoz said the self-employed pedicab driver hails from Turkey and is in the country on a valid 4-month Visa. The pedicab is also registered to his name.
The name of the driver has not been released by the police at the moment.
According to Muñoz, the pedicab driver was driving in an area that was clearly marked for pedestrians where bicycles are not allowed either.
He was apparently driving in a serpentine pattern, left-right right-left. The pedicab does not have a seatbelt either.
“That is not safe.” Muñoz added. “He just exercised bad judgment.”