EL CAJON — Melvin Pearles, 48 was sentenced to four years in prison yesterday for driving recklessly and causing a crash that killed a young mother one year ago on state Route 67. Family members of the deceased, Alexandria Drake, 25, spoke of their loss and the impact of her death on their lives, and longtime friends of Pearles defended a man they said was filled with remorse. Pearles, who pleaded guilty to a charge of gross vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. He was the driver of a Jaguar that was traveling at an estimated speed between 83 mph and 97 mph on the highway near Archie Moore Road on March 29, 2009. The stretch of Route 67 where the accident happened is where the road narrows from two lanes to one. It has been the site of at least three dozen accidents over the past decade.
ESCONDIDO — Tuesday morning around 3 AM officers where responding to a domestic violence call on West 10th Avenue off South Escondido Boulevard ,when a man answered the door holding a shotgun he was shot and killed, according to statement released by the Escondido police department. Police officers arrived at the scene and could hear a fight going on inside the home. An investigation is still pending and police must get a search warrant before reentering the home. Information on the officer and the man killed has not been released.
CHULA VISTA — A fire ripped through a single story home caused one elderly man, his wife and 3 police officers to be seriously injured. The fire started in the middle of the night at the home located off of Douglas st. Police arrived at the scene and found the wife outside, but her husband was still in the building and police went inside to help him escape. There where security gates on all windows and doors throughout the home and they where the non-removable kind. Firefighters had to cut the gate off to rescue the man. The house was declared a total loss and will have to be rebuilt. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
North County — The man caused at least 13 wrecks and sent multiple people to the hospital yesterday afternoon. The rampage cumulated with the driver of the 98 Nissan pathfinder running head-on into oncoming traffic and being arrested by authorities. The 24 year old man from the Temecula area, hit the first vehicle around 3 yesterday afternoon and at least seven accidents where reported to police officers. The driver failed to stop for any of them. After resisting arrest and hitting one officer in the face he showed them his medical marijuana card. The man is being charged with battery on a peace officer as well as felony hit-and-run.
ESCONDIDO — A man driving a 92 Toyota Camry was killed last night when he crashed his sedan into a utility pole, according to police officers. The man was driving near South Kalmia Street around 10 p.m. when he hit the pole. He died at the scene and his name has not been released. It is not certain if drugs or alcohol played a roll in this crash but excessive speed is believed to be a contributing factor.
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OCEANSIDE — Ronald Neeley, a 52-year-old man,who was killed in a motorcycle wreck last week during rush hour traffic. Neeley, who was traveling east on state Route 76 on his Harley Davidson motorcycle near Jeffries Ranch Road around 5 p.m. last Thursday when the vehicles in front of him suddenly stopped. Ronald Neeley was killed when he lost control of his motorcycle and was ejected. Neeley was life flighted to Scripps Hospital and was treated for severe head injuries. He later died while under life support.
Otay Mesa — Yesterday morning a man was killed by a semi truck when he parked his car and walked in to oncoming traffic. The 50 year old man was hit by a truck driving in the eastbound lane on Camino Maquiladora. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Drugs or alcohol where not a factor in the crash and the driver was not cited. The accident is still being investigated.
La Playa San Diego – Two senior citizens where injured when they crashed into the side of a house late last night. The driver of the Buick lost control while turning on Rosecrans lost control and slammed into the garage. One of the neighbors heard the crash while cooking in his backyard. Neighbors helped the passenger out but the driver had to be extracted by firefighters. Both women sustained serious injuries and were taken to the hospital. Both women who are age 92, had just left a nearby grocery store. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. The home was heavily damaged and had to be shored up by emergency crews to prevent further damage.
ESCONDIDO — A Driver was involved in a wreck after trying to pass two slower moving vehicles and had to be extracted with the jaws of life. According to police the driver was driving on Washington around 10 last night when he lost control and hit a power line. Two people were seen leaving the vehicle before first responders arrived and it is unknown if they were injured. The driver was taken to the emergency room with a pelvic fracture and multiple fractures in the ankle and leg.
Bonita – An early Friday morning blaze sends 2 people to the hospital for smoke and burn injuries after they were caught inside and as fire engulfed their two-story home. The Bonita blaze was so powerful that firefighters where unable to enter the home. The two occupants where an elderly couple and both where transported to UCSD medical center for treatment. Fire fighters continued to search the home3 after the fire was extinguished at 5 am because they where told that there might be someone else still inside. There where 30 people living on the property and residents told authorities that the home did not have any power. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Firefighters said they will be looking at generators, candles or heaters as possible causes. More than 30 firefighters from Chula Vista, San Diego and Bonita fire departments responded to the blaze.
