Family members of a Navy service member killed in a suspected road rage crash cried in court as investigators revealed black box results that showed the driver accused of plowing him over did very little to stop the car prior to hitting him.
Chief Petty Officer Zach Buob, 39, died on May 28 when his motorcycle was hit over by driver Darla Renee Jackson, 26, California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers said. Investigators say Jackson ran over Buob intentionally, though she has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge against her.
In court Friday, the CHP detective who investigated the case described the witness accounts of the crash where Jackson was seen accelerating into the motorcycle, which had slowed down prior to the impact.
CHP Detective Brad Clinkscales explained how Jackson's story changed throughout the investigation regarding how she ended up hitting the motorcycle. Clinkscales said one thing was clear: she told police she was in face chasing the driver before the crash.
"She stated as soon as the motorcycle hit her and flipped her off, she said she wasn't going to let him do that and not, she wanted to get his information," Clinkscales said.
Black box results from the car show Jackson did "very little" to stop from the 95 miles per hour she was driving six seconds before the crash, investigators said. When she hit the motorcycle, she was driving 81 miles per hour.
CHP officials also spoke about their conversation with Jackson's ex-boyfriend Caesar Valdecino, who said he had four different run-ins with her where she tried to run him off of the road.
"When she would see him, she would go after him in her car," an investigator said.
California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers said Jackson and a Buob, driving a red Ducati motorcycle, got into some type of disagreement on the roadway. According to Clinkscales, Jackson said Buob slowed down, shook his head, and hit the right side of her car for no reason.
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The two drivers transitioned from I-5 to eastbound State Route 54 and passed National City Boulevard, Jackson hit the Ducati from behind and ran over the rider, CHP officers said.
Jackson's attorney, Stephen Cline, said the fatal crash was an accident. That day, Buob sped past her and kicked her car after getting back about something, the attorney said.
Buob died a short time later at the hospital.
Fellow service members and bikers alike have said Buob was a kind, loving person.
“He was sweet, and he was funny, and he was crazy, and he loved his country,” said friend Kathy Cramer. “He loved his family; he loved his friends; he loved God and he loved his bike.”
Gary Klopp, who often rode with Buob on track days, told the crowd you would never think his friend was with Navy Special Warfare — an elite group that takes on dangerous missions — because he was so relaxed.
Klopp recounted his most recent trip to the track, when he stalled while taking a corner.
“My last memory of Zach coming up, and he stops and he goes, ‘Ha ha ha,’ like that,” Klopp described, pointing his finger. “And he just took off. That was Zach, always finding a joke, a humor, a moment.”
Buob served 20 years in the military, and his friends mourned the fact that despite carrying out so many tours, he died in his home country.
Jackson is being held on a $1 million bail.
