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Dawn Loralee Ritter

Age : 55

Gender : Female

Race : White

Date : 01/16/2021

Location : B Street and 9th Street

City : Marysville

County : Yuba

State : California

Agency : California Highway Patrol

Officer(s) :Paul Vue; Sgt. Howard

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Bystander killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

REASON FOR CHASE: California Highway Patrol Officer Paul Vue attempted to stop a driver for speeding on State Route 70 south of Oroville. The driver continued driving away while Vue pursued him south toward Marysville.

NARRATIVE:
On 01/16/2021, 55-year-old Dawn Loralee Ritter of Marysville was killed when a fleeing driver crashed into her Toyota Tacoma at B Street and 9th Street in Marysville during a California Highway Patrol pursuit.

Shortly after 11 p.m., CHP Oroville Officer Paul Vue attempted to stop a speeding driver on State Route 70 south of Oroville. The driver continued driving away and Vue pursued him toward Marysville.

The pursuit continued into Marysville. CHP Sergeant Howard joined the pursuit on B Street. Seconds after Howard joined, the fleeing driver entered the intersection of B Street and 9th Street against a red traffic signal and crashed into Ritter's Toyota Tacoma as she was completing a left turn from 9th Street.

The impact crushed the cab of Ritter's pickup. Ritter was killed instantly.

The fleeing driver abandoned his vehicle immediately after the collision and ran from the crash scene. California Highway Patrol officers, Marysville Police Department officers and Yuba County Sheriff's Office deputies established a perimeter and searched the surrounding neighborhood.

CHP Valley Air Division officers aboard helicopter H-24 located the driver as he jumped fences and ran through residential yards. The helicopter crew directed officers on the ground to his location on top of an apartment building, where officers took him into custody after a struggle.

Dawn Ritter was a longtime resident of the Yuba-Sutter area and a mother and grandmother. Born in Amarillo, Texas, on 03/03/1965, she spent part of her childhood in Spain and Germany as the daughter of a military family before her family settled in the Yuba-Sutter area. Her obituary described her as someone who loved crafting, baking, spontaneous road trips, panning for gold, picking fruit and, above all, spending time with her family. She was survived by her daughters and grandchildren.

DISPOSITION:
A Yuba County jury convicted the fleeing driver of second-degree murder, reckless evasion, fleeing the scene of a collision, possession of a firearm by a felon, resisting arrest, vandalism and driving on a suspended license. On 05/10/2023, he was sentenced to 21 years to life in state prison.

The pursuing CHP officers were not criminally charged for their role in initiating or continuing the pursuit.

OFFICER BACKGROUND:
CHP Oroville Officer Paul Vue initiated the traffic stop and pursuit. CHP Sergeant Howard subsequently joined the pursuit on B Street shortly before the fatal collision.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.crimevoice.com/2023/03/22/man-found-guilty-in-death-of-yuba-county-woman/
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/appealdemocrat/name/dawn-ritter-obituary?id=7098771
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/appealdemocrat/name/dawn-ritter-obituary?id=59470210