One of two men killed in a fiery crash in Pomona last week has been identified as a 67-year-old, San Dimas resident and longtime El Monte National Little League coach.
Paul Potter died at the scene of the crash, which occurred about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Fairplex Drive and McKinley Avenue, just south of the Pomona Fairplex, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Investigator Kristy McCracken said.
He was driving a minivan that was involved in a collision with a Waste Management trash truck, officials said. He died at the scene.
The trash truck driver was hospitalized with burns and died from his injuries early Friday at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, Pomona police Sgt. Hector Rodriguez said.
His identity was not released Saturday pending confirmation that his family had been notified, McCracken said.
The crash took place as Potter was northbound on Fairplex Drive in his minivan, and the unidentified trash truck driver was southbound, Rodriguez said.
“For an unknown reason, the van veered to the right into southbound lanes,” Rodriguez said. The van and trash truck collided head-on.
On the El Monte National Little League’s Facebook page, officials paid tribute to Potter and said the league, “has lost a family member.”
“He inspired many of our kids and built character for over 40 years. Thank you Mr. Potter, you will be missed. God Bless,” the statement said.
Anna Martinez of El Monte said Potter coached her nephew for two years, and is well-known around Lambert Park, where he has coached for decades.
He’d been coaching little league in El Monte so long that, “He coached some of the coaches,” she said.
“He helped every kid he could,” Martinez said.
She recalled Potter putting in long days at the park to work with his players. She also wondered what became of Potter’s dog, Moose, which she said was always at his side.
“He’s going to be very missed,” she said.