D.A. Asking Witnesses To Come Forward In Deadly Laurel Crash Case

On Monday, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office asked for the public’s help on the case of a tragic crash that killed a patient and a hospital security guard in Salinas last month.

Linda Rascon Williams and Cynthia Lane were hit and killed by a driver arrested for DUI just outside of Natividad Medical Center.

The D.A.’s office said the area of E. Laurel Drive near Constitution Boulevard was very busy on the night of Nov. 20. Investigators said many people were out who still have not come forward. What those witnesses saw could have a bearing on the case.

“It’s a major, major concern. It’s just a horrible, horrible evening,” said Monterey County District Attorney Dean Flippo.

Flippo said there were enough witnesses in the area to help investigators get a better idea of what happened.

“What we do know is that when the two women were hit that there were cars that were obviously coming up on the scene, trying to go around. What we are interested in is any of those individuals, whether they were on foot, whether they were in a vehicle, if they could give us a call,” he said.

That night, investigators said Williams, a security guard at Natividad Medical Center, tried saving a patient released from the hospital who had fallen in the middle of East Laurel Drive. As Williams knelt down to pick up Cynthia Lane, a car came through and struck them both. Investigators said Francisco Miranda Jr. was behind the wheel.

“What is important about this is we know before the paramedics came, before the fire trucks, before the ambulance trucks came, vehicles were going through right at the time that the two women were hit,” Flippo said.

And that’s why Flippo is encouraging witnesses to come forward with anything they may have seen.

“That could have a bearing. We don’t want to leave any rock unturned. People may see something that may be very insignificant to them, but it can be important under the law as to what are the degree of charges that will be filed,” he said.

Flippo said he’s very convinced the right person is being charged, but what witnesses share could have a bearing on the ultimate charges that will be filed.