Highway Patrol investigation states Lemoore councilmember at fault in October 2017 accident

It turns out that Blair was tagged as the responsible party because she ran a red light, according to a CHP investigator brought on the scene to investigate the accident. The CHP report stated that Blair ran the red light, striking another vehicle at the intersection of 19th Avenue and Bush Street on October 24, 2017.

Statement from CHP report

“Party #1 (Blair) caused this collision by driving Vehicle #1 (Honda) in violation of section 21453(a) VC (failure to stop at red light). Party #1 entered the intersection facing a red traffic signal ultimately causing this collision to occur.”

In a statement to the CHP investigator, Blair initially seemed to lay blame for the accident on the driver of the Toyota, insisting that she (Blair) rolled through the four-way stop on a green light. But in his final report, the investigator, in reviewing a video near the scene and after contacting a witness, determined that Blair’s version was inaccurate and that she caused the collision by running a red light.

Blair’s vehicle collided with a 2017 Toyota driven by a 20-year-old female driver with a 20-year-old male passenger. The female suffered only a minor injury and required no medical attention.

The CHP officer was called in by Lemoore officers to conduct the investigation. The officer used video evidence provided by a camera at the nearby Smoke Shop, located at the northeast corner of the intersection as well as the presence of an eyewitness standing on the northeast corner of the intersection waiting to cross Bush Street to determine the cause. In both cases, the video evidence and eyewitness indicated that Blair ran the red light as evidenced by the officer’s report.

Statement from the CHP report

“In the video I (CHP officer) observed Vehicle #2 (Toyota) traveling northbound on 19th Ave at approximately 35 mph approaching the intersection with Bush St. during this time I noticed approximately 3 other vehicles enter the intersection, traveling north and south, including a white truck that entered the intersection southbound approximately 1 second before Vehicle #2 entered the intersection. I also noticed there was a westbound vehicle that was stopped at the intersection while the northbound and southbound traffic were proceeding through the intersection. As Vehicle #2 entered the intersection, Vehicle #1 (Honda, Blair’s vehicle) entered the intersection traveling east on Bush St and was directly in the path of Vehicle #2. The front of Vehicle #2 struck the left rear of Vehicle #1. Vehicle #1 continued eastbound on Bush St. Vehicle #2 was stopped at the intersection and then proceeded through the intersection.”

The report states that after being struck by Blair’s Honda, the driver of the Toyota looked up at the northbound light and noticed it was still green and then turned yellow, stated the report.

This latest traffic incident came on the heels of recent news coverage of Blair’s recent actions, including at least three other traffic incidents involving Lemoore police officers. It was a little less than a month ago that Councilmember Blair suffered the wrath of her fellow councilmembers during a regular city council gathering (May 17) during which some councilmembers described her behavior as “unbecoming” a Lemoore councilmember.  

Councilmembers tore into Blair, criticizing her for demeaning the Lemoore Police Department and publishing social media posts that they say reflected badly on the council. Councilmember Dave Brown even singled Blair out for her posts as well as traffic incidents involving the police.

It turns out that Blair had been stopped several times for reckless driving and she suggested in a text to Lemoore Police Chief Darrel Smith that Lemoore “officers have too much time on their hands.”

Blair initially stated that she was stopped at least six times. Smith told councilmembers that Blair’s version of the incidents was not accurate. “I deal with facts,” he said. “Six times in two months is not factual.” He went on to say that Blair has been stopped three times in nine months, and his officers did not write her any tickets.

Councilmember Brown, during the meeting, called out “implied” threats from Blair suggesting that the Lemoore Police Department is singling her out. “This isn’t an easy thing to do,” said Brown. “This conduct is unbecoming of a councilmember.”

The October 24, 2017 accident at 19th Avenue and Bush Street was not mentioned at the May council meeting.

At the April 17 meeting, Brown pushed to censure Blair for her behavior, but the city doesn’t have a mechanism for disciplining one of its own.

Editor’s note: The Leader attempted to contact Blair regarding this story. Councilmember Blair did not respond to a call, or to emailed questions. Instead, via Facebook, she threatened to file a restraining order against the editor.