Manslaughter charges sought against man, 87

Thursday, Dec. 18, 2003 | 11:20 a.m.

LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- Police announced Wednesday they are asking the district attorney to file manslaughter charges against an 87-year-old man whose Buick LeSabre plowed through a crowded farmers market in July, killing 10 people and injuring 63 others.

Santa Monica Police Chief James T. Butts announced Wednesday the results of an investigation his department conducted on the tragic chain of events last July.

Police said George Russell Weller had gone to drop off mail when he crashed his Buick into a car, then sped through the crowded farmers market just before 2 p.m. on July 16.

"The Buick accelerated rapidly towards the farmers market over a distance of 245 feet, where it struck a pedestrian standing on crutches near the 'Road Closed' sign,' " Butts said. "That pedestrian was thrown a distance of approximately 60 feet."

Authorities said the Buick continued on for about 1,000 feet, causing more than 100 crashes into pedestrians and other objects.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley said his office had prosecutors at the crime scene within the first few hours and has been reviewing reports and interviewing hundreds of witnesses since then.

"Now that we have the completed investigation from Santa Monica police and the accident reconstruction by the California Highway Patrol, we will finish our review and make a filing decision that evaluates this day of horrific human carnage," Cooley said Wednesday in a written statement.

Weller's attorney told the Associated Press his client should not face charges.

"We're anxious to see the report because we've conducted our own extensive investigation and concluded this was a tragic, terrible accident," attorney Jim Bianco said. "There was no intent to hurt anyone, no negligence and no crime."

He added that Weller was heartbroken by what happened: "He suffers every minute of every day."