Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
Multiple Deaths in Farmer's Market Tragic Accident
Aired July 17, 2003 - 06:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: He thought he was stepping on the brake; instead, it was the accelerator. That's what an 86-year-old man told police after his car plowed into an outdoor farmer's market filled with pedestrians. Nine people were killed.
Live to Santa Monica now and CNN's Kimberly Osias.
Could they charge this man?
KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're still waiting to see, Carol. That remains to be seen. As you said, he did tell police. He was questioned. They released him. And 86-year-old Russell Weller said basically he told police he thought that he mistakenly hit the gas pedal and he thought it was the brake pedal, causing a catastrophic reaction right here behind us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OSIAS (voice-over): Leaning on others for support, a visibly shaken Russell Weller left Santa Monica police headquarters Wednesday night. Although he offered no comment, his attorney had this to say on his client's behalf:
JIM BIANCO, WELLER FAMILY ATTORNEY: This was an unintentional and unfortunate accident. Mr. Weller is very shaken up.
OSIAS: It was a scene of carnage, Santa Monica's farmer's market cordoned off with crime tape, bodies covered with yellow tarps. Police say the 86-year-old Weller drove his 1992 Buick LeSabre into this crowded market, careening over three city blocks before coming to a stop, a person on the hood of the car, a woman trapped underneath.
LORE CAULFIELD, WITNESS: It was like a Sherman (ph) tank barreling through, hitting everything, just going right over people.
OSIAS: Shoppers lifted the car, freeing the still-breathing woman underneath. Several dozen injured. Among the dead: a toddler.
Witnesses working nearby described the driver as seemingly befuddled and mentally out of touch. Blood tests showed no signs of alcohol or psychiatric medication in Weller's system.
CHIEF JAMES T. BUTTS, JR., SANTA MONICA POLICE: We are looking at this event from the perspective that it could end up being a manslaughter of some type. We are also looking at whether or not the individual was qualified to drive.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
OSIAS: That, of course, obviously is a big issue, but police do say Mr. Weller did have a valid driver's license -- Carol.
COSTELLO: I was just going to ask you about his driving record. Do we know anything about that?
OSIAS: No, we don't know that. We do know, of course, he's 86 years old. And here in California, Carol, I'm told that every four years you can renew your license. They are looking into what exactly happened with Mr. Weller on that renewal.
And one issue that was bandied about in the legislature I think in 2000 was whether or not they were going to put a law in force here that would put (UNINTELLIGIBLE) elderly folks and would actually mandate, as well as a written test, that they would have to go out and actually do a driving test. And, of course, those sorts of things are questions that you can expect will certainly come to the fore as investigations continue -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Certainly so. Kimberly Osias live from Santa Monica this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired July 17, 2003 - 06:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: He thought he was stepping on the brake; instead, it was the accelerator. That's what an 86-year-old man told police after his car plowed into an outdoor farmer's market filled with pedestrians. Nine people were killed.
Live to Santa Monica now and CNN's Kimberly Osias.
Could they charge this man?
KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're still waiting to see, Carol. That remains to be seen. As you said, he did tell police. He was questioned. They released him. And 86-year-old Russell Weller said basically he told police he thought that he mistakenly hit the gas pedal and he thought it was the brake pedal, causing a catastrophic reaction right here behind us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OSIAS (voice-over): Leaning on others for support, a visibly shaken Russell Weller left Santa Monica police headquarters Wednesday night. Although he offered no comment, his attorney had this to say on his client's behalf:
JIM BIANCO, WELLER FAMILY ATTORNEY: This was an unintentional and unfortunate accident. Mr. Weller is very shaken up.
OSIAS: It was a scene of carnage, Santa Monica's farmer's market cordoned off with crime tape, bodies covered with yellow tarps. Police say the 86-year-old Weller drove his 1992 Buick LeSabre into this crowded market, careening over three city blocks before coming to a stop, a person on the hood of the car, a woman trapped underneath.
LORE CAULFIELD, WITNESS: It was like a Sherman (ph) tank barreling through, hitting everything, just going right over people.
OSIAS: Shoppers lifted the car, freeing the still-breathing woman underneath. Several dozen injured. Among the dead: a toddler.
Witnesses working nearby described the driver as seemingly befuddled and mentally out of touch. Blood tests showed no signs of alcohol or psychiatric medication in Weller's system.
CHIEF JAMES T. BUTTS, JR., SANTA MONICA POLICE: We are looking at this event from the perspective that it could end up being a manslaughter of some type. We are also looking at whether or not the individual was qualified to drive.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
OSIAS: That, of course, obviously is a big issue, but police do say Mr. Weller did have a valid driver's license -- Carol.
COSTELLO: I was just going to ask you about his driving record. Do we know anything about that?
OSIAS: No, we don't know that. We do know, of course, he's 86 years old. And here in California, Carol, I'm told that every four years you can renew your license. They are looking into what exactly happened with Mr. Weller on that renewal.
And one issue that was bandied about in the legislature I think in 2000 was whether or not they were going to put a law in force here that would put (UNINTELLIGIBLE) elderly folks and would actually mandate, as well as a written test, that they would have to go out and actually do a driving test. And, of course, those sorts of things are questions that you can expect will certainly come to the fore as investigations continue -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Certainly so. Kimberly Osias live from Santa Monica this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
