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David Kawashima

Age : 62

Gender : Male

Race : Asian

Date : 04/18/2021

Location : Jamboree Road near Warner Avenue

City : Irvine

County : Orange

State : California

Agency : Tustin Police Department; Irvine Police Department

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Bystander killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

REASON FOR CHASE: Police chasing man reported asleep at fast food restaurant
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NARRATIVE:
On 04/18/2021, 62-year-old professional photographer David Kawashima of Orange was killed when a vehicle fleeing a Tustin Police Department officer traveled the wrong way on Jamboree Road and crashed head-on into his vehicle near Warner Avenue in Irvine, California. Kawashima was an uninvolved motorist who encountered the pursuit while driving to a photography assignment for the City of Irvine.
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At approximately 8:45 a.m., Tustin police were called to the District at Tustin Legacy shopping center after employees reported a driver who appeared to be passed out in the In-N-Out Burger drive-thru.
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The subsequent criminal case established that at approximately 9:00 a.m., a police officer arrived and parked behind this vehicle. The driver backed up and drove away, and the officer followed. The vehicle drove through a rear alley of the shopping center, traveled the wrong direction through a gas station, ran a stop sign and a red traffic signal, crossed double-yellow lines and entered the wrong side of a major roadway.
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The vehicle continued north in the southbound lanes of Jamboree Road at approximately 55 to 60 mph. According to evidence subsequently summarized by the California Court of Appeal, he narrowly avoided approximately seven vehicles traveling toward him before reaching Kawashima's vehicle.
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After traveling approximately 300 yards against traffic, the vehicle crashed head-on into Kawashima's vehicle on Jamboree Road near Warner Avenue. Kawashima was alone in his vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene.
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The fleeing driver and his female passenger survived the collision and were hospitalized.
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The fleeing vehiclehad been reported stolen. The Irvine Police Department Major Accident Investigation Team investigated the fatal collision.
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Kawashima was a professional photographer and longtime photographer for the City of Irvine. He earned a bachelor's degree in history from UCLA and had photographed Irvine's civic events, milestones and community life for nearly 15 years. His professional clients also included the Los Angeles Times, ESPN, Toshiba, Orange County United Way and Orange County Metro.
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Kawashima was traveling to a City of Irvine photography assignment when he was killed. Following his death, Irvine added his name to the city's Wall of Recognition, planted a memorial tree, renamed the photography studio at the Irvine Fine Arts Center in his honor, and mounted an exhibition of his photography at Irvine Civic Center.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://rafu.com/2021/04/suspect-arrested-after-fatal-dui-crash-charged-with-murder/
https://kfiam640.iheart.com/content/2021-04-20-diamond-bar-man-charged-with-murder-in-fatal-crash/
https://newsantaana.com/repeat-dui-offender-convicted-again-after-a-fatal-dui-crash-on-the-border-of-tustin-and-irvine/
https://mynewsla.com/crime/2023/08/23/diamond-bar-man-convicted-for-wrong-way-fatal-crash-in-orange-county-2/
https://mynewsla.com/crime/2023/12/15/man-gets-38-years-to-life-for-deadly-police-pursuit-crash-in-irvine/
https://newsantaana.com/repeat-dui-driver-finally-getting-locked-up-after-killing-a-photographer-in-tustin/
https://kfiam640.iheart.com/featured/la-local-news/content/2023-10-20-wife-step-daughter-tell-oc-judge-how-deadly-collision-affected-family/