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Jorge Miguel Romero
The following are news items regarding the driver -- Jorge Miguel Romero -- who wrecklessly plowed his semi-tractor-trailor rig into the back of the Coble's minivan killing Kyle, Emma, and Katie Coble, and injuring their mother, Lori Coble, and her mother, Cynthia Maestri. Mr. Romero is expected to go on trial at the end of November 2007. More items will be added as the legal proceedings progress.
Trucker Who Caused Coble Children Deaths Pleads 'No Contest'
Jorge Miguel Romero, 38, the truck driver who slammed his tractor trailer into the rear of the Coble family minivan May 4, 2007, taking the lives of Kyle, Emma, and Katie Coble, has pled "no contest" to three counts of vehicular manslaughter at a hearing Friday, August 22, at Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach. Each of the three counts of vehicular manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of one year. However, the Orange County Probation Department has recommended he receive no more than a year in jail, according to Farrah Emami of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. The recommendation took into account the nature of the crime and the Romero’s prior history. He was accused of being inattentive, not keeping enough distance between his truck and stopped traffic, and hitting the brakes too late to stop -- all amounting to criminal negligence. "The ultimate decision will be up to the judge," Emami said. In a statement issued to the Ladera Times, Chris and Lori Coble said, "Today's news of the plea is not a surprise to us. We have known for a few months that this is what the defense planned on doing. We of course feel like there is not enough justice in the world to make this right. Having the defense plea is just a small victory in a large battle. We want the road fixed; without that there is bound to be another tragedy." Romero will be sentenced on November 14. In a related story, Chris and Lori Coble gave birth to triplets -- Ashley Lynn, Ellie Gene, and Jake Christopher -- April 30. For more on that click on Three Coble Angels on Earth, or for a series of articles on the events as they have unfolded, click on Coble News Diary.
Driver Loses Commercial License Over Deaths of Coble Children
The driver of the truck that in May struck and killed the three children of Lori and Chris Coble -- 5-year-old Kyle, 4-year-old Emma, and 2-year-old Katie -- has had his commercial driver's license revoked as a result of the accident. Judge David R. Chaffee issued the ruling against Jorge Miguel Romero, 37, during a hearing in Orange County Superior Court Harbor Justice Center September 13. Romero was charged in August with three counts of vehicular manslaughter for his negligent driving behavior that led to the deaths. He faces a maximum sentence of three years in jail if convicted of all charges. Romero is accused of negligently crashing his truck into the back of the stopped minivan and driving through the back seat where the Coble children were sitting. The children's mother, Lori Coble, who was driving the Coble family car, and their grandmother, Cynthia Maestri, who was riding in the front passenger seat, were both injured and hospitalized as a result of the accident, which occurred on May 4 on the I-5 Freeway along the treacherous stretch of highway near the OSO Exit. At the request of Romero's attorney, Andrew Roth, Judge Chaffee continued the first hearing in the criminal case to October 30. In the meantime, Romero is free on his promise to appear in court. The Cobles are residents of Ladera Ranch.
Trucking Firm Involved in Coble Tragedy Found in
Violation of Numerous State & Federal Regulations
K.W. Express, the trucking firm involved in the May 4 I-5 Freeway accident near the OSO Exit that killed the three children of Chris and Lori Coble -- Kyle, 5, Emma, 4, and Katie, 2, -- has been found by transportation safety inspectors to be in violation of numerous state and federal regulations, including:
n Allowing five drivers to work before receiving required drug test results;
n Falsification of drivers' duty status reports in 13 of 111 reports;
n Failure to have a written substance abuse policy;
n Failure to maintain inspection and maintenance records;
n Failure in 60 cases by drivers to prepare inspection reports; and
n Failure by K.W. Express' parent company -- K.W. International -- to maintain the minimum $750,000 insurance coverage among other violations.
Jorge Miguel Romero, 38, the truck driver who slammed his tractor trailer into the rear of the Coble family minivan May 4, 2007, taking the lives of Kyle, Emma, and Katie Coble, has pled "no contest" to three counts of vehicular manslaughter at a hearing Friday, August 22, at Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach. Each of the three counts of vehicular manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of one year. However, the Orange County Probation Department has recommended he receive no more than a year in jail, according to Farrah Emami of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. The recommendation took into account the nature of the crime and the Romero’s prior history. He was accused of being inattentive, not keeping enough distance between his truck and stopped traffic, and hitting the brakes too late to stop -- all amounting to criminal negligence. "The ultimate decision will be up to the judge," Emami said. In a statement issued to the Ladera Times, Chris and Lori Coble said, "Today's news of the plea is not a surprise to us. We have known for a few months that this is what the defense planned on doing. We of course feel like there is not enough justice in the world to make this right. Having the defense plea is just a small victory in a large battle. We want the road fixed; without that there is bound to be another tragedy." Romero will be sentenced on November 14. In a related story, Chris and Lori Coble gave birth to triplets -- Ashley Lynn, Ellie Gene, and Jake Christopher -- April 30. For more on that click on Three Coble Angels on Earth, or for a series of articles on the events as they have unfolded, click on Coble News Diary.
Driver Loses Commercial License Over Deaths of Coble Children
The driver of the truck that in May struck and killed the three children of Lori and Chris Coble -- 5-year-old Kyle, 4-year-old Emma, and 2-year-old Katie -- has had his commercial driver's license revoked as a result of the accident. Judge David R. Chaffee issued the ruling against Jorge Miguel Romero, 37, during a hearing in Orange County Superior Court Harbor Justice Center September 13. Romero was charged in August with three counts of vehicular manslaughter for his negligent driving behavior that led to the deaths. He faces a maximum sentence of three years in jail if convicted of all charges. Romero is accused of negligently crashing his truck into the back of the stopped minivan and driving through the back seat where the Coble children were sitting. The children's mother, Lori Coble, who was driving the Coble family car, and their grandmother, Cynthia Maestri, who was riding in the front passenger seat, were both injured and hospitalized as a result of the accident, which occurred on May 4 on the I-5 Freeway along the treacherous stretch of highway near the OSO Exit. At the request of Romero's attorney, Andrew Roth, Judge Chaffee continued the first hearing in the criminal case to October 30. In the meantime, Romero is free on his promise to appear in court. The Cobles are residents of Ladera Ranch.
Trucking Firm Involved in Coble Tragedy Found in
Violation of Numerous State & Federal Regulations
K.W. Express, the trucking firm involved in the May 4 I-5 Freeway accident near the OSO Exit that killed the three children of Chris and Lori Coble -- Kyle, 5, Emma, 4, and Katie, 2, -- has been found by transportation safety inspectors to be in violation of numerous state and federal regulations, including:
n Allowing five drivers to work before receiving required drug test results;
n Falsification of drivers' duty status reports in 13 of 111 reports;
n Failure to have a written substance abuse policy;
n Failure to maintain inspection and maintenance records;
n Failure in 60 cases by drivers to prepare inspection reports; and
n Failure by K.W. Express' parent company -- K.W. International -- to maintain the minimum $750,000 insurance coverage among other violations.