Sheriff Donny Youngblood says it may be months before an investigation determines exactly what happened Friday night when a sheriff's deputy hit and killed two pedestrians in Oildale.
24-year-old Daniel Hiler and 30-year-old Chrystal Clevenger were killed as they walked across Norris Road. Investigators say they were walking south, toward the train tracks when a deputy driving west, struck them. Witnesses say the force of the impact sent the two flying a half block from the point of impact.
Flowers, balloons and candles mark the spot where Clevenger and Hiler were hit by Deputy John Swearengin Friday night.
"Approximately 7:30 p.m, Deputy Swearengin, a five-year veteran of the department, was in a traffic accident while responding to a report of a stolen vehicle with a suspect at the scene," said Sheriff Donny Youngblood.
Highway Patrol officers say 34-year-old Swearengin hit Hiler and Clevenger as they pushed a small motorbike across Norris Road, near Diane Drive.
"This was an accident that could have been well avoided. Now we got two people that have kids, and they no mommy and no daddy," said Stephanie Lindley, the mother of Hiler's fiance.
Clevenger leaves behind three children. Hiler leaves behind a fiance and two young boys.
"The night before, we left McDonald's and a sheriff pulled out right in front of us with no lights on and Daniel said 'I freakin' hate when they do that.' The next day they freaking take his life because he didn't have his lights on," said Whittney Peaker, Hiler's fiance.
A witness who was standing in his front yard says Swearengin was speeding without his emergency lights on as he raced through a yellow light. Youngblood says the investigation will determine how fast Swearengin was going at the time of the accident.
"I just see them flying through the air I mean like rag dolls. It didn't even look real. It sounded like an explosion, like a stick of dynamite went off. It was at least a half a block down the street where they landed. It was far," said Chris Moody, who witnessed the accident.
Highway Patrol officers say there were no skid marks. They say Hiler and Clevenger were wearing dark clothing and not walking in a crosswalk. Witnesses say after the crash, Swearengin waited in his car for help to arrive.
"I don't know if there's a policy for when we have an accident and run over someone about what the officer is supposed to do. At the end of the investigation we will determine what his actions were and if they were appropriate or not," explained Youngblood.
The California Highway Patrol is heading the crash investigation. Swearengin is on paid administrative leave as the investigation continues.
