Three Hospitalized in Four-Vehicle Crash on Hwy 101

Several lanes were blocked for more than an hour.

A traffic collision involving a shuttle van and three other vehicles in Palo Alto late Wednesday night sent three people to the hospital, one with serious injuries, according to the California Highway Patrol. The collision was reported at 11:53 p.m. on southbound U.S.Highway 101 just north of San Antonio Road, near the border of Palo Alto and Mountain View, CHP said. A man from San Jose was taken to Stanford Medical Center with a laceration to his left eye, CHP said. The man also complained of chest pain. Another man and a woman were also injured, but less severely. They were both transported to Stanford Medical Center to be treated for neck pain. Several lanes of the highway were blocked for over an hour while emergency crews cleaned up …

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City Inks Deal With Police Union

New contract requires police to contribute to their pension, medical costs.

YTTM: Nearly 6,000 Fined, J2LYK

Texting, talking on cell phones brings tickets from the CHP during their "It's Not Worth It" campaign.

Cell phone calls, texts and other distractions on the road earned nearly 6,000 Bay Area motorists citations from the California Highway Patrol in April, the CHP has announced. The 5,900 citations to drivers throughout the region came during the CHP's "It's Not Worth It" campaign to remind the public of the dangers distracted driving poses as part of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, according to CHP officials. "We were overwhelmed with the support here in the Bay Area," CHP Chief Teresa Becher said in a statement. "Our allied law enforcement agencies as well as many other public and private entities in the community stepped forward to make a difference. Some made a pledge, others posted the message on electronic signs or in …

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Photo Gallery: Hundreds Attend Fakava Funeral

A moving show of solidarity by police from all over the Bay Area.

Hundreds of police, family and friends attended services for Deputy Heikoti “Koti” Fakava, a 46-year-old officer with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Department who passed away on May 1 after a brief illness. Traditional Tongan mats called taʻovala were worn by many mourners. White flowers, leis and a large picture of Deputy Fakava were also on display. Police motorcycles led the long procession of vehicles as they left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Millbrae, headed for Cypress Lawn Cemetery in Colma.

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Cops Investigating Hate Crimes

Two hate crimes reported on High Street.

UPDATE: Blocking Wavecrest from Off-Roaders May Violate Coastal Act

Logs placed on Redondo Beach Rd in Half Moon Bay as emergency measure, county says.

Update 5/8 8:03 a.m.: San Mateo County Parks Superintendent Scott Lombardi tells Half Moon Bay Patch that the logs at Redondo Beach Road will be removed today. Update 12:38 p.m.: Assistant County Manager David Holland told Half Moon Bay Patch that the logs at Redondo Beach Road will be removed on May 8 or 9. In the wake of a four-wheel drive off-roading incident on March 18 and 19 at Wavecrest — which resulted in the disruption of protected land in south Half Moon Bay — San Mateo County Parks placed logs at three locations on Redondo Beach Road to block further access to the area. Yet one Half Moon Bay resident is publicly disputing the legality of the action, saying that the logs should only have been placed with a Coastal Development …

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Residential Burglaries on the Decline

Police see big drop since spike in first three months of 2012.

The disturbing spike in residential burglaries that began early this year has ebbed dramatically, police said. During the month of April, only seven residential break-ins were reporting by residents, down from 31 in March, 22 in February and 21 January. Police credit the drop to increased crime prevention efforts by residents and “proactive, targeted enforcement efforts by police,” according to a statement released Thursday by Palo Alto Police. The overall burglary numbers for 2012 still remain high compared to the first quarter of 2011, however. There have been 81 total residential burglaries reported so far this year, compared to 43 in the first four months of 2011 and 34 in 2010, police said. “While the April numbers are certainly …

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Juvenile Busted in Teen Robbery Case

Investigators track down suspect from March heist.

Palo Alto Police officers identified and arrested Friday a juvenile they believe is responsible for robbing two teens last month. On March 31, two 13-year-olds were walking on the 1500 Edgwood Block, near Newell Road, when they were approached by three older kids and robbed, police said. Since then, police have been conducting a follow-up investigation into the case, which led to identifying the 15-year-old boy who was arrested Friday. That boy, who will not be named because he is a minor, was found by police on El Camino Real at Oxford Avenue at 3:00 p.m. Friday. Police arrested the boy, from East Palo Alto, for robbery, and later released him to a parent, as per standard procedure, police said. No further details would be provided by …

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