Placer County CEO quiet on group’s accusation he was involved in deadly vehicle accident

Placer County Executive Officer Todd Leopold at a public meeting this week did not address an accusation that he was the driver in a fatal vehicle and pedestrian collision that left an 18-year-old man dead.

Leopold was identified last week by an advocacy group as the driver of the vehicle that fatally struck Inderkum High School student Anthony Williams in Rocklin on the night of Saturday, March 19.

The Rocklin Police Department has not named Leopold as a driver in the incident. It has refused to release records related to the accident, saying it is under investigation.

The Placer County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday addressed the allegation that Leopold was involved in the accident with a written statement that did not name him. The accident did not come up during the board’s meeting Tuesday.

“The death of Anthony Williams is a tragedy and the Placer County Board of Supervisors extends sincere condolences to his family and friends,” the board members said in a joint written statement. “As the City of Rocklin investigation is not yet complete, the board cannot confirm or deny any statements or details related to the incident. The board’s thoughts are with all impacted by this tragic accident.”

Leopold has worked as the county executive officer since January 2018. He is responsible for the administration of county business and reports to the Placer County Board of Supervisors.

Once the investigation is complete, it will be sent to the Placer County District Attorney’s Office for final consideration, Rocklin Police Capt. Scott Horrillo said.

Police officials have said the man, later identified as Williams, was “walking in the roadway” when he was struck by the vehicle in the area of Lonetree Boulevard near the Blue Oaks Town Center and later died at a hospital. Police also said the driver involved in fatal collision cooperated with the investigation.

Members of the advocacy group, which calls itself Justice for Anthony, spoke during the public comment portion of Tuesday evening’s Rocklin City Council meeting.

They said Williams’ family and friends have gone for more than seven weeks with few answers from police, and they demanded more transparency in the investigation.

“This community is in mourning. We lost a beautiful, talented young man,” said Erin Acosta, the mother of one of Williams’ closest friends. “No one is saying this was an intentional act, but we do demand answers as to why this tragic accident occurred. Was Todd Leopold the driver? If not, then who? Was the driver who struck Anthony speeding? Was he distracted in any way?”

Michelle Mendez, another member of the advocacy group, told the City Council they’ve learned police investigators have questioned Williams’ friends who were not at the scene of the fatal collision.

“What narrative are they trying to create?” Mendez asked about the police investigation. “The optics behind this investigation of Anthony Williams’ death is extremely shady. Is the Rocklin Police Department withholding information because the alleged high profile ranks of Todd Leopold?”

This story was originally published May 11, 2022 at 5:25 AM.