LAKEPORT — A Lakeport teenager died earlier this week in an auto accident as she and family members were returning home from a summer road trip.
Shampagne Letrice Pittman, 15, sustained fatal injuries early Monday morning in an accident that occurred in Lancaster.
The accident occurred after the Ford F-250 pickup in which she was riding as a passenger was struck from the right rear by a vehicle that failed to stop for a posted stop sign.
Also in the pickup with Shampagne were her grandmother, Alva Jeffries, who was driving; Jeffries” husband, Jack Jeffries; Jasmine Santos, 14; Shampagne”s brother, Xavier Pittman, 9; and her sister, Sharlene Pittman, 13.
The family was traveling through Lancaster from Glendale, Ariz., on a summer vacation trip and heading toward Highway 5 and home to Lakeport when the accident occurred.
Lancaster California Highway Patrol Officer Tom Goris said Jeffries” pickup was “traveling northbound at 55 mph” on 90th Street East when a 1999 Ford Ranger driven by Julio Reyes, 27, of Lancaster which was was traveling at an unknown speed ran the stop sign on Avenue H at 90th Street East.
After running the stop sign, Reyes” vehicle entered the intersection and collided with the right rear of Jeffries” vehicle.
Lancaster Sheriff”s Department Public Information Officer Captain Ed Winter said that Shampagne was riding in the rear seat of her grandmother”s pickup truck when the accident occurred. The impact from the collision caused the Jeffries” truck to overturn and go off the road, he said.
According to the Lancaster County coroner, Shampagne suffered multiple traumatic injuries and was ejected from the vehicle. The autopsy report filed by Investigator Dana Bee states that “the decedent unfortunately was not restrained and was ejected via the left rear window,” and lists the fatality as an accident. Shampagne Pittman died at the scene.
Reyes was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter. He sustained major injuries and is currently at the Lancaster Community Hospital.
A memorial service for Shampagne Pittman, who attended Clear Lake High School, will be held today at 11 a.m. at the Lancaster New Beginnings Faith Fellowship Church.
There will also be a memorial service held in Lakeport at a later date, according to Shampagne”s grandfather, Ernie Pittman of Temecula.
Contact Cynthia Davis at cdavis@record-bee.com.
