CHP Urges Charging Mom in Girl’s Death
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California Highway Patrol officials are recommending that a Ventura mother be charged with vehicular manslaughter in the death of her 10-year-old daughter, who was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.
“Our investigation is complete and we recommend prosecution of Debra Giannini for vehicular manslaughter, child endangerment and failure to provide and utilize a seat belt . . .,” said Officer Brian McAllister. He added that the recommendation is expected to be forwarded to the Ventura County district attorney’s office this week.
CHP officers said Tiffany Flores, a Portola Elementary School fifth-grader, was lying on the backseat of her mother’s Toyota 4Runner and not wearing a seat belt when the vehicle rolled over several times March 23 on Pacific Coast Highway. The girl was ejected from the vehicle.
Tiffany died two days later in the intensive-care unit of St. John’s Regional Medical Center from head, brain and spine injuries.
“The primary cause of the collision was an unsafe turning movement,” McAllister added. “It is difficult to determine whether the driver had fallen asleep.”
Giannini suffered minor injuries in the accident, which occurred near Pacific Coast Highway and Rose Avenue.
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