Hit and run driver causes gas line eruption, burning Poinciana Plaza in Santa Clara
SANTA CLARA – According to the Santa Clara Police Department, an incident occurred on Wednesday, August 26 at about 3:51 PM, when the Santa Clara Police and Fire Departments responded to a call of a fire at a local business.
The caller told 9-1-1 dispatchers that they had heard multiple loud explosions in the area of Poinciana Plaza. When the Santa Clara PD and Fire Department responded to the scene, located at the corner of Poinciana Drive and White Oak Lane, fire investigators were able to determine that the explosions were caused by a severed gas line leading into the multi-complex business center.
According to Santa Clara Police Lieutenant Kurt Clarke, “Officers also observed the ABC Laundromat engulfed in flames.” It was then that the Santa Clara Fire Department started to work on extinguishing the fire. The business center was home to ABC Laundromat, KP Liquors, Poinciana Lounge, Sabor Salvadoreno, and Star Hair and Nails. All five businesses were lost to the explosive fire.
Clarke said, “Officers soon learned a 2-door white Honda Accord had collided with a gas meter and ruptured the gas line.” Without moving the vehicle off the site following the eruption, the female driver of the Honda, now identified as 47-year-old Sara De Segura – a resident of the city of Santa Clara, fled the parking lot.
A citizen’s cell phone video had shown De Segura hitting the gas line near the north side of the Plaza. The Santa Clara Police were asking for information leading to the suspects seen in the video.
Santa Clara Police reported that De Segura turned herself in on Thursday, August 27 at about 2:00 PM. De Segura was the driver of the 2-door Honda Accord seen just moments before the fire. It was also learned that a single passenger was identified as 40-year-old Samuel Donis, who is a resident of Sunnyvale. The case has been forwarded to Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office for review.
