[08-25-2022] Santa Clara County, CA – Police Officers Injured in Multi-Vehicle Crash in Palo Alto

According to the Palo Alto Police Department, a couple of police officers were injured after burglars rammed into several law enforcement vehicles in Palo Alto on Thursday, August 25, 2022.

The crash occurred just after 6:30 p.m. in City Parking Lot “H” at 530 Cowper Street.

According to the witness, a black Audi A-8 sedan was circling the parking lot, and one of its occupants got out and looked inside cars. According to the police, this behavior is typical of car burglars.

The witness provided dispatchers with the license plate information, but the plate did not correspond to the Audi. When police arrived, they surrounded the parking lot and cornered the suspect’s car and its two occupants.

The police reported that the Audi accelerated and drove at the occupied patrol car as the officer attempted to stop it, hitting it twice.

The Audi allegedly struck a second patrol car that was in motion, and the impact of the collision caused the suspect car to strike three additional parked automobiles in the parking lot.

According to police, the Audi kept going and struck two more parked vehicles before coming to a stop. The police detained both suspects without incident.

The police discovered two loaded guns inside the Audi. The first weapon was a 9mm Glock handgun with a fully loaded, 30-round magazine that had been illegally converted to a fully automatic weapon. The second weapon was a semi-automatic 9mm Glock handgun with a loaded, 17-round magazine.

Additionally, the police discovered items that had allegedly been taken that afternoon or that evening from other nearby vehicles.

According to the police, bags containing items like laptop computers and other personal property were taken from inside each of the parked cars after the windows had been broken out.

The police discovered a license plate on the Audi that belonged to a Toyota in Pacifica. Police had not received a report of a stolen vehicle or license plate.

The 2013 Audi’s registration had been moved to an Oakley car dealership but had not yet been assigned to a new owner.

Tommy M., 25, of South San Francisco, and Nino F., 25, of San Francisco, were both arrested and booked by police into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on various charges.

The three counts of felony auto burglary, felony conspiracy, and felony carrying a loaded firearm with the intent to commit a felony were filed against both suspects.

The two were also accused of carrying a concealed weapon and possessing a large-capacity magazine, both misdemeanors.

Miller, the driver, was also charged with carrying a loaded weapon while not authorized to do so, possession of a machine gun, and felony assault with a deadly weapon for ramming into the police vehicle.

Fiapoto, the passenger, was detained because he was a felon with a loaded gun and ammunition.

According to the police, Fiapoto has a history of felons in possession of firearm convictions and is currently on probation in San Mateo County. He had an outstanding felony warrant at the time of his arrest.

Miller is said to have collided with two officers inside patrol cars; both officers reportedly complained of pain but refused medical attention at the scene.

Miller also reported experiencing head pain.
The Palo Alto Fire Department paramedics examined him before being turned over to police on the spot.

Multi-Vehicle Crash Statistics

There has been an alarming rise in the number of accidents throughout the state due to the rapid expansion of the economy. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 3,304 people were killed in traffic-related incidents in 2010.

However, motorists face extreme risks on California’s roads. These wrecks could have been avoided if the drivers involved had exercised a bit more caution. More than 94% of accidents occur due to human error.

Depending on their severity, injuries sustained in car accidents can be very distressing or even fatal. Due to the prevalence of road mishaps, motorists may grow numb to the peril they face every time they get behind the wheel.

A multi-vehicle collision is one that involves three or more vehicles. Two vehicles colliding head-on can ensnare up to four others.
According to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 13,000 people were killed in accidents involving two or more vehicles in 2010.

Santa Clara County Car Accident Lawyers

It’s easier to prosecute the drivers when only two cars are involved. If multiple vehicles are involved, it may take longer to find a solution to an accident.

Finding the root of the problem is more difficult here. Many lives could have been lost if two or more cars had collided.

If the circumstances surrounding the origin of a multi-vehicle collision are murky, it may be unwise to put your faith in an insurance company. Due to the negative impact on profits, the insurance company is not interested in a speedy resolution of your claim.

Our Santa Clara County car accident lawyers at Arash Law have successfully defended clients for decades.

Our legal team has dealt with cases involving the most common types of wrongdoers, defenses, and compensation structures.
Call us at (888) 488-1391 or fill out our online intake form to speak with one of our experienced attorneys for free.