Donations Sought to Help Crash Victim

Written by Neil Farrell

Neil has been a journalist covering the Estero Bay Area for over 27 years. He’s won numerous journalism awards in several different categories over his career.

June 10, 2020

Sheriff’s deputies, Morro Bay Police and CHP officers draw guns on a man suspected of attempted murder, after he slammed his getaway car into a Morro Bay woman’s vehicle on Hwy 1 in Morro Bay. The community is coming to her assistance through a Go Fund Me account.

A woman injured in a car crash by a fleeing, attempted murder suspect is re-cooperating from her ordeal, and a friend has stated a Go Fund Me account to help her.

According to the Go Fund Me account set up by Vivian Krug, Morro Bay resident Donna Klein was on Hwy 1 turning onto Yerba Buena Street when her destiny crossed paths with an alleged felon in frightening fashion.

According to a Sheriff’s Department news release, at about 6 p.m. Monday, May 18 Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of shots fired in the 1200 block of San Luis Bay Dr., in Avila Beach.

“Witnesses reported seeing a fight between two men, who were acquaintances,” said spokesman Tony Cipolla, “when the suspect pulled a gun on the victim and shot him multiple times. The victim was able to flee the scene, and transport himself to a local hospital with non-life-threatening wounds.”

Sheriff’s investigators put a bulletin out on the suspected shooter who’d also fled in a vehicle. A Highway Patrol officer spotted the car in San Luis Obispo and tried to stop it, but the driver hit the gas and took off at high speed down Hwy 1 towards Morro Bay.

The pursuit ended in horrific fashion when the fleeing suspect slammed head-on into the vehicle driven by Klein at the intersection of Yerba Buena Street and Highway 1. She was on her way home from work. Her car was totaled.

Cipolla said the suspect’s vehicle rolled and came to rest on the passenger side in a ditch some 75-feet away. The suspect got out of the car by himself and was immediately arrested at gunpoint by deputies, Morro Bay police and CHP officers.

The suspect, identified as John Salazar, 53 of Los Osos was taken to the hospital, treated and then booked into County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder, with additional charges expected for the reckless flight from arrest and subsequent injury accident.

Klein suffered non-life threatening injuries and is in severe pain and unable to work. Her beloved dog, a passenger in the vehicle, was apparently almost as shaken up as she, who on the website said, “These funds will be used for a vet evaluation and treatment for my dear little Sammy, as well as to meet my basic daily needs until I can be back on my feet and able to work again.”

Krug added, “Many of you know Donna and for those of you who don’t, she’s one of the kindest people you will ever meet. She is always helping others and is always volunteering her spare time for the benefit of people and animals. Right now she needs a little help.”

The web address for the Go Fund Me page is: www.gofundme.com/f/hit-and-injured-during-a-police-pursuit?utm_medium=copy_link&am if readers would like to help her get through this difficult time.

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