Police identify man killed on New Year’s Day
The pedestrian killed on New Year’s Day has been identified as Randy Breeton, 49, of South Lake Tahoe.
Breeton was crossing Highway 50 near the Town and Country Center about 8pm when he was struck by a vehicle driven by Uriel Ortiz, 19, of South Lake Tahoe. Officers said Ortiz was not at fault.
Results of an autopsy are pending to determine if Breeton was intoxicated at the time of the accident.
“Over the past five years, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department had arrested Mr. Breeton for 38 separate occasions of public intoxication to the point he was unable to care for his own safety. Mr. Breeton possessed an open beer can with an inserted straw still inside his jacket at the scene of the collision,” police Lt. Brian Williams said in a press release.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
Autopsy..really? For what purpose? The driver was not at fault, and the pre-collision condition of the victim is known.
Unless they die in the hospital or at home with a known medical condition, just about everybody gets an autopsy. If there is any legal question at all, there will be one if nothing else to protect the legal rights of the driver of the car that hit him.
‘For what purpose?
Science.
Clarity. Peace of mind. Answers. This was my father. Pedastrians always have the right of way.
Worldcycle is right here. I’m surprised that you don’t consider the possibility that the driver could later be charged with manslaughter.
My condolences to you Amy. While pedestrians do not always have the right of way, it seems your father is in a better place and perhaps with greater piece of mind. My thoughts go out to you and your family.
Amy — I am sorry for your loss but pedestrians do not always have the right of way.
Pedestrians Outside Crosswalks
21954. (a) Every pedestrian upon a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway so near as to constitute an immediate hazard.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not relieve the driver of a vehicle from the duty to exercise due care for the safety of any pedestrian upon a roadway.
In all respect to everyones opinon this was clearly a accedent invoving by my little brother and the driver of the car that hit him. Why does it have to be a blame or fault placed on anywone? Accedents happen! I’m sure the driver did not intend to set out to hit and kill someone that evening or I’m sure my little brother did not intend on dying that way. Sometimes no mater how careful we are when your time is up it does not matter “I do know that he is in a much better place and is at peace. I am so sad my heart is broken he will be missed and never forgotten, for those of us who really knew him he was an amazing human being