State agency investigates death of autistic man on Highway 118 in Simi Valley

A Simi Valley group home is under investigation by the California Department of Social Services after the death of one of its residents on Highway 118 in Simi Valley, officials said.

Andres Valadez, a 19-year-old with autism, was killed the night of June 30 after he left the group home in Simi Valley and walked onto the highway, where he was struck by multiple vehicles.

Michael Weston, a Department of Social Services spokesman, said the agency will be looking into the circumstances surrounding the incident and whether SAILS Group, which oversees the home, was performing its responsibilities.

The agency will be investigating the actions of the staff, he said.

Kent McIntyre, executive director of SAILS Group, confirmed Tuesday that his company oversees four adult group homes in Ventura County, but declined to say more. Follow-up calls left with the company Wednesday were not returned.

The SAILS facility is licensed by DSS as a group home, according to state records. The company operates close to 40 care facilities in California, although not all facilities are residential, according to its website.

In the meantime, DSS conducted a facility evaluation of the home July 3. The evaluation report says the client, who had been placed in the facility by Tri-Counties Regional Center, left the facility through a bedroom window.

A staff member of the home, who was assigned to the man on a one-on-one basis, informed the group home's facility manager of the client's departure and was instructed to search the area and call 911, the report states.

The facility manager also canvassed the area and was reportedly in contact with the California Highway Patrol by phone during the search, the report states.

According to CHP officials, Valadez eventually walked onto the highway and was near the center divider when he was observed by a CHP officer around 9:50 p.m.

The officer approached Valadez in a CHP unit with its lights on and instructed the 19-year-old to remain in the center median of the westbound lanes via loudspeaker, authorities said.

Patrol officials said Valadez did not comply, however, and jumped over the median onto the eastbound side of the 118. Valadez did not comply with a second command to remain in place and walked into the eastbound lanes of traffic, where he was struck, according to CHP.

During the search, the facility manager was instructed by CHP personnel to return to the facility and that a patrol unit was en route, the report states.

Officials from CHP and Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office, as well as the man's mother, arrived at the group home about midnight, the report states. Officials informed the mother and facility manager that the man had died as a result of the injuries he suffered on the highway, the report states.