Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston announces that a coroner’s jury has reached a finding in the death of Leona Rachael Moreno. The finding of the jury is that the death was an accident.
On October 22, 2015, Moreno was a passenger in a vehicle that was traveling at a high rate of speed. Before Antioch police could catch up to the vehicle to make a traffic enforcement stop, it hit a PG&E pole before coming to rest, overturned on the roadway. Moreno was ejected from the vehicle. She died at the scene.
The coroner’s jury reached a verdict after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by the hearing officer, Matt Guichard.
A coroner’s inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in fatal incidents involving peace officers, is a public hearing, during which a jury rules on the manner of a person’s death. Jury members can choose from the following four options when making their finding:
- Accident
- Suicide
- Natural Causes
- At the hands of another person, other than by accident.
Original Release:
On October 22 at 10:47 PM, two Antioch Police Officers in an Antioch Police car were working a stolen vehicle assignment with allied agencies. At this time they saw a Lexus traveling eastbound on E. 14th Street near Columbia Street in the city of Pittsburg.
The vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed and as the officers attempted to catch up to the Lexus, it continued eastbound on the Pittsburg Antioch Highway. Shortly after the Lexus passed through the intersection of Loveridge Road the vehicle went out of control, struck a telephone pole, rolled and came to rest on its roof in the 27—block of the Pittsburg-Antioch Highway.
Two occupants were ejected from the vehicle and a third was able to free himself and crawl out. Life saving measures were attempted on a 25 year old female Pittsburg resident, but were unsuccessful and she was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene.
The two other occupants are both male and residents of Antioch (ages 26 and 21). They were both transported to an area hospital where they were admitted and expected to recover from their injuries.
No other vehicles were involved in this collision. No arrests have been made as the case is still under investigation.
Due to a downed PG&E pole the road remained closed until Pittsburg Police had announced the road was re-opened just before 11:00 am. They did say a slight delay may occur as crews will be on scene but would be gone no later than 1:00 pm.
The case is still being investigated by the Antioch Police Department, Pittsburg Police Department and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office. No further information will be released at this time.
Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Vanderpool with the Antioch Police Department at (925)779-6988. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.
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Traveling at high rate of speed implies reckless driving, unless it was out of the drivers control. The injuries sustained and the remorse in causing death seems like punishment enough. RIP