OCTOBER 7, 2009 – Five Torrey Pines High School students were involved in a solo-vehicle rollover crash in Rancho Santa Fe early Sunday morning that left one boy dead, the CHP has reported. The accident, which involved a Mazda 3, happened on La Granada near the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club. The driver of the car, whose name has not been released, was booked into Juvenile Hall on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and vehicular manslaughter. The right, rear passenger of the Mazda, 17-year-old Alex Michael Capozza, was ejected from the vehicle and died of his injuries at the scene of the crash. Another passenger suffered a scalp laceration and other injuries and was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla in critical condition. The cause of the fatal Rancho Santa Fe accident remains under investigation.

The California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) is also investigating the source of the alcohol involved in the accident. Prior to the crash, the five teenagers were reportedly drinking at a $5.7 million Rancho Santa Fe estate. The owner of the home told local news reporters that he was out of town when the get together occurred. Under San Diego County’s social host ordinance, the hosts of parties involving underage drinking may face penalties for allowing underage drinking in their homes. According to authorities, when it comes to knowing what is going on and what kind of alcohol is inside a home, the property owner is responsible, and could face criminal or civil litigation.

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SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 – A 36-year-old Florida man visiting San Diego on business died in a head-on collision Tuesday near Ramona, authorities have reported. The crash, which involved a 2004 Chevy 2500 pickup truck and a 1988 Chevy 1500 pickup truck, occurred just before 12:45 p.m. on Wildcat Canyon Road. Keith Sexton, of Florida, was travelling south on Wildcat Canyon Road, while Jeffrey James, 46, of Ramona, was travelling north. For reasons not known, James’ 2004 Chevy truck veered into southbound lanes near Casa de Carol and struck Sexton’s 1988 Chevy truck. James suffered only minor injuries and declined medical treatment. Sexton died at the scene. The CHP is investigating the cause of the fatal Ramona accident. Authorities do not believe speed, drugs, or alcohol were factors in the crash, but the investigation is ongoing.

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SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 – A San Diego man died Thursday in a crash on the connector ramp from southbound Interstate 5 to eastbound Highway 78, authorities have reported. The crash, which occurred just before 7 a.m. Thursday, involved a 2002 Lexus IS 300 and a big rig towing a 32 foot cargo trailer. For unknown reasons, the driver of the big rig lost control of the truck on the offramp and rolled onto the Lexus. The driver and sole occupant of the Lexus, Gustavo Gracia, 33, of north county, died at the scene. The driver of the big rig, a 32-year-old Bellflower man, was taken to Palomar Medical Center with minor injuries. The connector ramp to Highway 78 was closed for nearly five hours while authorities investigated. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the fatal Highway 5 accident.

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SEPTEMBER 9, 2009 – A young boy was struck by a car Tuesday night in Clairemont, the San Diego Police reported. The accident occurred at about 7 p.m. on Idlewild Way, near the intersection of Jutland Drive. The boy, who was not identified, was taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries. Police are investigating the cause of the accident.

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SEPTEMBER 9, 2009 — A jury in Chippewa County, Wisconsin, awarded a 51-year-old Eau Claire woman $3.14 million for permanent injuries she sustained in a crash caused by a drunk driver on the evening of December 11, 2005.

Debra Mayer suffered two broken teeth, a broken left arm, a broken left leg, a broken left foot, a fractured rib and a punctured lung after the near head-on collision. The accident occurred in the town of Eagle Point, north of Chippewa Falls. The driver of the 1989 Pontiac Grand Am that caused the accident, David M. Bowe, 59, had just left a bar in Chippewa Falls when the accident occurred. Bowe was sentenced to 18 months in jail for causing the collision. It was Bowe’s second drunken driving offense.

Since the crash, Mayer now walks with a cane, needs massage therapy and physical therapy. She has had to make modifications to her home to allow her to continue living at home with her injuries.

Two years ago, Mayer rejected a settlement offer of $900,000. The award included $750,000 for Mayer’s future medical expenses; $250,000 for past medical expenses; $17,588 for out-of-pocket expenses; $1.75 million for past and future pain and suffering, disfigurement and disability; and $375,000 in punitive damages.

AUGUST 29, 2009 – Four people were killed Friday evening in a crash in Santee, the California Highway Patrol has reported. The crash occurred on State Route 125 near Mission Gorge Road, north of La Mesa. According to the CHP, a person called 911 at 6:36 p.m. and reported having a stuck accelerator and was unable to stop at an approaching intersection near Mission Gorge Road. The car was estimated to be travelling at more than 100 mph when the crash occurred. The vehicle caught fire and all four occupants died at the scene. The cause of the fatal Santee crash is under investigation.

AUGUST 28, 2009 – A man was killed early Thursday morning in San Marcos, San Diego County Sheriff’s officials have reported. The San Marcos pedestrian accident occurred just before 5:30 a.m. in the 1400 block of Grand Avenue. The victim, who was struck by a 2000 Toyota Tacoma, was identified as Miguel Becerra Mendoza, 46, of Vista. He was reportedly struck while crossing the street. Mendoza was taken to Palomar Medical Center in Escondido where he was pronounced dead. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fatal pedestrian accident.

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AUGUST 23, 2009 – The California Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of a fatal head-on collision Saturday on Del Dios Highway in Escondido. The crash involved a Dodge pickup truck and a loaded cement truck that weighed 25 tons. According to reports, Jose A. Acosta-Alvarez, 32, of San Diego was driving his pickup truck east on Del Dios Highway when, for unknown reasons, at about 11:49 a.m., he crossed into westbound lanes and collided with a cement truck. The head-on crash occurred near Lake Hodges dam, and Del Dios Hwy was closed for several hours from Calle Ambiente to Rancho Drive following the collision. According to authorities, the two vehicles crashed “headlight-to-headlight.” Both vehicles were estimated to be traveling between 40 and 45 mph. Anyone with information about the fatal collision is asked to call the Oceanside CHP office.

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AUGUST 22, 2009 – A 27-year-old man was killed early Saturday in a solo-vehicle SUV rollover accident in Chula Vista, authorities reported. The San Diego County crash occurred on H Street, near Fourth Avenue at 4:15 a.m. The driver, whose name was not released, was ejected from his Chevrolet Tahoe and died at the scene of the crash. Further details were not immediately available. Police are investigating the cause of the Chula Vista auto accident.

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AUGUST 22, 2009 – A 22-year-old Spring Valley man died early Saturday morning in a solo-vehicle motorcycle accident on the Clairemont Drive / Mission Bay Drive off-ramp of northbound Interstate 5, authorities have reported. The crash occurred at around 1:20 a.m. According to reports, Richard Dennis Fox was riding a yellow Yamaha R6 motorcycle when he lost control of his motorcycle and struck a guardrail. He was ejected from the bike and died at the scene of the crash. The cause of the fatal San Diego motorcycle accident is under investigation.

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