Motorcycle cop injured when hit from behind by second motorcyclist

By: North County Times wire services | Tuesday, June 1, 2004 11:24 PM PDT ∞

IRVINE - A policeman is to undergo surgery today following a crash in which an alleged DUI motorcyclist was thrown onto the officer's motorcycle, and the officer was knocked onto his partner's bike before tumbling onto the freeway.

Both the suspect and the Costa Mesa police officer remained hospitalized in serious condition.

The crash happened about 10 p.m. yesterday on the southbound San Diego (405) Freeway, Jamboree Road, in Irvine.

Motor officers Dennis Dickens, 39, and Tony Yannizzi, 48, were on their way home after ending their shifts, said Costa Mesa police Lt. John FitzPatrick.

As the two officers drove at about 65 mph in the HOV lane, a third motorcyclist traveling in excess of 100 mph came up from behind and rear-ended Dickens, FitzPatrick said.

Dickens was thrown from his motorcycle and landed on Yannizzi's bike, but as he tried to hold onto Yannizzi's leg, he lost his grip and fell onto the asphalt, rolling on the freeway, FitzPatrick said.

The suspect, Javier Gasga, 33, of Mission Viejo, was catapulted from his bike and landed on Dickens' bike, remaining on until it crashed about a quarter mile away, FitzPatrick said.

Yannizzi stopped his motorcycle and ran back to the suspect, who was lying in the No. 2 lane of the 405 freeway, FitzPatrick said.

Yannizzi pulled the suspect to the should of the freeway, then ran back to help Dickens, who was trying to crawl to the side of the freeway, FitzPatrick said.

A California Highway Patrol Officer arrived and both Dickens and Gasga were taken to Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center, where Dickens was scheduled to undergo surgery for a cracked pelvis later today, FitzPatrick said.

Gasga was hospitalized for treatment of a collapsed lung, and both men suffered abrasions, FitzPatrick said.

Gasga had a blood-alcohol level of twice the legal limit, FitzPatrick said.

He was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, according to a statement by the CHP.

Man gored by elephant in accident at Six Flags Marine World

Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO -- An elephant trainer at Six Flags Marine World in Vallejo was in critical condition Tuesday after he was gored by one of the pachyderms, a fire department spokesman said.

Patrick Chapple, 39, was standing next to 7,000-pound Misha, a 23-year-old female African elephant, at about 3:30 p.m. when the animal turned suddenly from grazing and knocked him to the ground.

When paramedics arrived, the 39-year-old man was suffering from a penetrating wound to the abdomen, but was alert and talking, according to Vallejo Fire Department spokesman William Tweedy.

"All the way through," Tweedy said of the injury. A park spokesman confirmed that Chapple was gored.

A handful of park visitors witnessed the accident, as well as another nearby trainer who quickly shooed Misha away.

Chapple was taken to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.

Chapple has 13 years of experience as an animal trainer, according to park spokesman Jeff Jouett.

Late Tuesday, Misha remained in the elephant compound where she would be monitored.

It's not the first time Misha has showed her anger. She went after another trainer about two years ago, said Jeff Jouett, the park's spokesman.

"Misha has had one other aggressive incident where she swung at a trainer with a trunk," Jouett said.

Misha, one of five elephants at the park, came to Vallejo from the Happy Hollow Zoo in San Jose when she was just 2-years old.

"The real good news for us is he's moving his limbs and toes. There's no spinal cord injury," Jouett said. "Everybody that works here is like family so we're very concerned."

The park is located in Vallejo, about 20 miles east of San Francisco. It features several thrill rides and animal attractions, including an animal interaction program for school children to get up close to dolphins and sea lions.

On the Net:

http://www.sixflags.com/parks/marineworld/

Streisand pays legal bill for lost privacy case

North County Times wire services

LOS ANGELES - Barbra Streisand paid the $177,000 legal bill of an amateur photographer who prevailed in a $10 million lawsuit she filed over a picture of her Malibu mansion posted on his Web site, an attorney said today.

Last December, Superior Court Judge Allan J. Goodman ordered Streisand to pay Kenneth Adelman's attorney fees, after dismissing the lawsuit that alleged the photo he took violated her privacy and the state's anti-paparazzi law.

Streisand couldn't reach an agreement with Adelman over the amount, so the judge ordered her to pay an additional $15,000 to cover his costs of returning to court to set the fees and collect them.

The $177,000 was due Friday, and the entertainer just beat the deadline, Adelman attorney Richard Kendall said.

Streisand attorney John Gatti did not rule out an appeal. "We look at all the options," he said.

Adelman, a retired software entrepreneur, photographed Streisand's oceanfront property at Point Dume from a helicopter hovering at 500 feet.

The photo was posted on his californiacoastline.org, along with more than 12,000 other images of the state's 1,100-mile coastline.

The entertainer objected after a Web site viewer used an interactive function to caption the image "Streisand Estate, Malibu."