MARCH 31, 2009 – Police officers will begin patrolling more frequently along Highway 67 after Sunday’s fatal crash. 25-year-old Alexandria Drake was killed when her car was struck by a Jaguar while traveling southbound on the Highway. It is believed that the driver, 47-year-old Melvin Pearless, was racing a BMW at the time of the collision. Witnesses saw both the BMW and Jaguar traveling at least 80 mph before Mr. Pearless lost control of his Jaguar and crossed into oncoming traffic, striking Ms. Drake’s Volvo. Her car then struck a tree. She died several hours later at Palomar Medical Center. Her infant son was also in the Volvo at the time of the crash, but was unharmed. Joel Cherry, a motorcyclist traveling behind Ms. Drake’s vehicle, swerved to avoid the crash and suffered minor injuries. Mr. Pearless was also hospitalized and is expected to face a manslaughter charge. The BMW did not stop at the scene. Although no description of the driver is available, authorities are asking anyone who has any possible information to contact 619-401-2000.
From January 1998 through March 2008, 46 people died on Highway 67. Between 2005 and 2007 alone, there were 11 deaths and 65 injuries. Authorities report that excessive speed is the main cause of accidents in that area. Some safety improvements have been made, such as last year’s installation of rumble strips to alert motorists when they are crossing over center dividing lines. The possibility of expanding the highway and putting in a concrete median is currently being discussed. The CHP is planning to use a recent grant from the Office of Traffic and Safety to perform extra patrols along the Highway, hoping to prevent more speeding and DUI-related accidents.
Find more like this: Auto Accidents, Speeding Accidents