| In the interest of speed and timeliness, this story is fed directly from the Associated Press newswire and may contain spelling or grammatical errors. |
Memorial planned for one week after Santa Monica market crash
Wednesday July 23, 2003SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) Memorial organizers planned a moment of silence exactly one week after an elderly motorist drove through a farmers market, killing 10 people and injuring 69 others.
The market was to open for business Wednesday while local religious leaders were expected at a candlelighting and silent remembrance at 1:47 p.m.
Police said a decision on whether to file criminal charges against driver Russell Weller will be made in about six weeks. The California Department of Motor Vehicles meanwhile suspended the 86-year-old Santa Monica man's driving license at the request of city police.
The Police Department said in a statement that nearly 300 people have been interviewed about the July 16 crash and authorities were searching for 43 more people.
Police also were trying to determine if Weller was leaving the scene of a traffic crash involving a Mercedes-Benz when he turned his Buick sedan onto the closed street where the farmers market was being held.
Weller smashed through the market, hitting pedestrians and leveling stands. He was questioned by police and then released. He later issued a statement saying he was distraught and heartbroken by the crash. Shortly after the crash his attorney, Jim Bianco, called it an accident.
Weller's severely damaged car was being examined for mechanical defects.
The last of the 10 people killed was identified Tuesday by the Los Angeles County coroner's office. The driver's license of Theresa Breglia, 50, said she had lived in New York City's Bronx borough, said supervising investigator Emil Moldovan.
Breglia's sister Virginia Mercado said Breglia had lived with her in New York City since 1998 and went to the Los Angeles area last month, apparently hoping to visit her ex-husband who lives in California.
Santa Monica officials released a casualty total that reached 79 people, saying no other single event in the city's history involved more deaths or injuries.
Victims still hospitalized included:
A child in fair condition and three adults in serious condition at UCLA Medical Center.
A 54-year-old man in critical condition and a woman in good condition at Los Angeles Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
One patient in serious condition, one in fair condition and a third in good condition at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center.
Three patients in good condition at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica.
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