The State - News from June 3, 1988

An Orange County jury found that Costa Mesa police were not responsible for the deaths of two teen-age boys during a high speed chase of a fleeing suspect. The family of Roy Williamson, one of the dead youths, claimed in a civil suit that the police should have called off the chase on Dec. 12, 1984, which resulted in a stolen van driven by Ruben M. Valle, 21, crashing into the boys’ Volkswagen at 19th Street and Placentia Avenue. “The evidence at the trial confirmed our belief that the police were at least partly responsible for our son’s death,” said Keith Williamson, the victim’s father. “The jury didn’t see it that way.” Valle, who was convicted of second-degree murder, is now serving 30 years to life in prison. Costa Mesa police began pursuing Valle about four minutes before the accident after he was spotted driving the van recklessly. Witnesses said the van reached speeds of up to 85 m.p.h. at one point, with the police traveling up to 65 m.p.h.