Car Crash: US ambassador injured, One killed in Malibu Crash

August 26, 2010

Malibu – US ambassador to Malta Douglas Kmiec was injured, while another passenger was killed, after their car fell into a ditch Wednesday afternoon.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Kmiec was the one driving the car and had two passengers, a nun and a priest.

The single-car accident occurred at Virgenes Canyon Road and Mulholland Drive near Calabasas when Kmiec veered out of the road and crashed into a drainage ditch.

Kmiec, 58, and Msgr. John Sheridan, 94, were airlifted to UCLA Medical Trauma Centre after suffering moderate injuries. They both underwent surgery and reportedly are now in good condition.

The other passenger, 74-year-old Sister Mary Campbell from Our Lady of Malibu Catholic Church died at the scene, according to CHP officer Leland Tang.

Scholar and law commentator, Kmiec served as dean and St. Thomas More Professor of Law at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

He was also once a professor at Pepperdine University and served in the University of Notre Dame’s law faculty. He was nominated by President Obama as envoy to Malta in July 2, 2009.