◼ New driver named in fatal collision
The California Highway Patrol has identified a new individual as one of the drivers involved in a suspected illegal street race that killed a 9-year-old girl.
Jason B. Whitmill, 31, has been named the driver of a Pontiac Sunbird involved in the alleged race. A Chevrolet Tahoe also traveling on State Route 299 was clipped by a car speeding at 90 miles per hour or more, according to CHP.
The Sunbird and the Tahoe went off the road. The collision killed 9-year-old Nicole Quigley, and seriously injured her mother, Debra Quigley, after their vehicle -- the Tahoe -- overturned and hit a utility pole.
A third person of interest, the driver of a silver Ford Mustang, is still at large.
According to CHP information, Whitmill was arrested the night of the collision for violating his parole. He is being held in the Humboldt County jail. On Wednesday evening, charges had not been filed, but are pending.
Whitmill suffered minor injuries in the wreck, CHP reported.
Cheri Marcelli, who was hospitalized after the crash, was previously named as the Sunbird's driver. Her name was removed from an updated collision report.
Authorities continue the search for a silver Ford Mustang, possibly a convertible, with a black top. After receiving numerous tips, investigators with CHP wrote in a release that “not all owners of a silver Ford Mustang are involved in this case,” and advised people to be respectful of others' privacy when gathering information.
”The CHP is still attempting to identify the driver, or any passengers of the silver Ford Mustang with a black convertible top and has been following up on numerous leads from the public,” a release stated. “The driver of the silver Ford Mustang is considered a person of interest only in the investigation.”
Anyone with information is asked to call CHP at 822-5981.
Sean Garmire can be reached at 441-0514 or sgarmire@times-standard.com.
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Related:
09
◼ Whitmill and Flores trial date delayed another month 08/04/2009
◼ Whitmill, Flores take District Attorney's deal 12/05/2009
◼ Jury selection begins in trial of Whitmill, Flores 11/23/2009
◼ Whitmill, Flores trial to proceed 11/10/2009
◼ Motion denied to suppress blood sample in Whitmill case 11/06/2009
◼ Whitmill faces murder charge for alleged role in crash 10/15/2008
◼ Quigley family, friends remember 9-year-old Nicole 10/06/09
◼ Nearly one year ago 10/01/2009
◼ Case surrounding fatal crash on Highway 299 delayed 09/15/2009
◼ Too many delays 9/10/09
◼ Legal maneuvers slow case of men charged in 9-year-old's death 09/01/2009
◼ Whitmill and Flores trial date delayed another month 08/04/2009
◼ Evidence, charges unchanged against Whitmill 07/17/2009
◼ Evidence for second degree murder charge? 06/19/2009
◼ Thinking of the Quigleys 05/29/2009
◼ Remember Nicole 05/08/2009
◼ Looking forward: Quigley family watches and waits as case continues 05/17/2009
◼ Defendants in 299 wreck plead not guilty 03/28/2009
◼ Judge holds Whitmill, Flores to answer for 299 wreck 03/14/2009
◼ Wife refuses to testify against husband at preliminary hearing 03/13/2009
◼ Investigator testifies suspect in fatal crash changed story 03/12/2009
◼ Officer testifies about 299 crash at prelim 03/11/2009
◼ Preliminary hearing over Highway 299 wreck continues 03/10/2009
◼ Superior Court delays hearing in 299 crash case 02/11/2009
◼ Broken system 01/23/2009
08
◼ Hug your children 12/03/2008
◼ Vehicular manslaughter suspect has extensive criminal history 11/13/2008
◼ Whitmill-Flores hearing continued 11/06/2008
◼ Street race case waiting on CHP reports 10/23/2008
◼ Authorities seek Mustang passenger for questioning 10/17/2008
◼ Court document: Flores tried to 'subvert' investigation 10/16/08
◼ Whitmill faces murder charge for alleged role in crash 10/15/2008
◼ Authorities arrest driver of Mustang 10/10/2008
◼ New driver named in fatal collision 10/09/2008
◼ Search continues for other driver in fatal crash 10/08/2008
◼ ER Parolee named as driver in fatal collision
◼ TS New driver identified in fatal crash
◼ TS New driver named in fatal collision
TS Update: ☛ TS Police still looking for driver
◼ TS Driver sought: Suspected drag race on 299 results in fatal crash
Note: there were other articles in the Eureka reporter, but none are available online anymore.
