On May 4, 2007 the Coble family mini-van was rear-ended by a big-rig truck driven by 38-year-old Juan Miguel Romero. The impact killed the three Coble children who were buckled in their child car seats. The children, a boy and two girls, were 5, 4 and 2-years old. The family was returning home from a day at Irvine Spectrum, where they had gone to ride the Ferris wheel for the 5-year-old’s birthday.
Romero contended he was within the speed limit traveling southbound on the I-5 before Oso Parkway, but there simply wasn’t enough space to avoid collision when traffic suddenly stopped ahead of him. A CHP investigation alleged he was driving 60-70 mph, too fast for conditions, and was inattentive.
Today Romero pleaded no-contest to vehicular manslaughter charges in return for a plea arrangement whereby he may serve less than one year in jail, according to a New York Times publication. Conviction on the charges would otherwise carry up to 3 years imprisonment.
The children’s mother, Lori, was driving and their grandmother was in the front passenger seat at the time of the accident. They both were injured and hospitalized, but recovered. Almost 1,000 people attended the funeral for the children.
Earlier this year Lori gave birth to triplets, again two girls and a boy.
