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In the interest of speed and timeliness, this story is fed directly from the Associated Press newswire and may contain spelling or grammatical errors.
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Memorial planned for one week after Santa Monica market crash
Wednesday July 23, 2003
SANTA 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.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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