Thomas Sousa (Full Name: Thomas Michael Sousa II) Died In Pickup Truck Accident After Being Sought By Manteca Police
MANTECA, CALIFORNIA (January 9, 2025) – A man identified as Thomas Sousa has tragically died after being hit by a truck in Manteca along the westbound lanes of Highway 120.
San Joaquin County officials are saying that the incident took place around 2:16 a.m. on Wednesday. Police officers spotted a vehicle weaving back and forth on South Main Street and Highway 120.
They pulled the vehicle over, and Thomas Sousa exited the vehicle. One officer claimed that the man was not acting right and proceeded to wait for backup.
It was at this point that the man got back into his vehicle. He allegedly hit the back of the patrol vehicle.
Another officer was called to the scene and found the man standing on the highway sign attached to the overcrossing. After a few minutes, Thomas Sousa dropped down into westbound lanes of traffic.
He was then hit by a pickup truck. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the man. Sadly, Thomas Sousa died due to his injuries.
A full investigation into the incident remains ongoing at this time.
Legal Considerations for San Joaquin County Officer-Involved Deaths
Thousands of people are killed or seriously injured every year during police encounters. According to the Law Enforcement Epidemiology Project, “In the U.S. during a given year, an estimated 1 million civilians experience police threat of or use of force resulting in a conservative estimate of 75,000 non-fatal injuries requiring hospital treatment and 600-1100 deaths.” Police departments should take a number of measures in order to avoid fatal encounters.
- Police officers should wait for backup in high-risk situations.
- Police officers should be equipped with less-lethal measures like tasers.
- Police officers should be trained to de-escalate encounters.
Depending on the facts of any case, there could be numerous sources of liability for the death of any suspect during a traffic stop. A police department could be liable if they failed to follow protocol related to someone in the midst of a mental health crisis. Consider, for example, People v. Brown, 245 Cal. App. 4th 140, 171 (Ct. App. 2016). An officer’s “failure to follow a safety rule promulgated by his employer, regardless of its substance, serves as evidence of negligence.” Among other things, officers should work to de-escalate encounters with suspects who may be having a mental health crisis.
The driver of a vehicle could also be held at fault for a collision. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 21950, the driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid hitting any pedestrian. This is true even if a pedestrian is outside of a marked crosswalk. If a driver fails to slow down to avoid hitting a pedestrian, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. It is important that certain steps are taken after any death involving the police.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- The actions of officers leading up to a death should be understood.
- Medical records related to injuries should be preserved.
- A thorough investigation should be conducted.
It can be hard to know what to do after losing someone during a police encounter. To make matters worse, police departments will virtually never be completely transparent about what happened. This is where a civil rights attorney can help. They can investigate the unique facts of any incident free of cost and let you know if officers could be legally responsible for a death.
Investigating Manteca Officer-Involved Deaths
We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of Thomas Sousa II. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the investigators. There are so many questions about what happened that remain unanswered.
Do you need more information about any officer-involved death in California? Our team of civil rights attorneys is here for you. We are committed to helping people understand their rights and holding police departments accountable for their wrongful actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (949) 825-5200.
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