Thread: Motorist killed in head-on crash with fleeing suspected DUI

Motorist killed in head-on crash with fleeing suspected DUI

By Debbi Baker (Contact) Union-Tribune Staff Writer
9:23 a.m. April 20, 2009

PALA — A 27-year-old man was killed in a head-on crash Sunday night after a suspected drunken driver fleeing from officers slammed into his vehicle on state Route 76 north of Escondido.

A California Highway Patrol officer spotted 23-year-old Silvero Morales Romero of Vista speeding south on Interstate 15 in a 2001 Ford Explorer and pulled him over at Rainbow Valley Boulevard just after 7 p.m., CHP Officer Eric Newbury said.

Romero, who did not have a driver's license, briefly stopped but when the officer asked for his identification he took off down the freeway driving 100 mph and weaving in and out of lanes, Newbury said.

Romero exited at state Route 76, headed west and ran a red light at the intersection with Old Highway 395, Newbury said.

At that point, the officer who was pursuing him backed off and continued to follow with his lights and sirens off, Newbury said.

Seconds later, Romero crossed over the double yellow lines and collided head-on with a 1999 Toyota pickup. The driver was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His name has not been released.

Romero's truck then crashed into a 2004 Ford F-350 being driven by a 50-year-old man from Barstow. He and his 43-year-old wife suffered minor injuries, Newbury said.

Romero's truck rolled several times down an embankment until it came to a stop in a ditch.

One of his legs was severed at the knee but he still tried to escape officers and hopped about 50 feet before he fell to the ground.
He was taken to a hospital and will be booked on several felony charges including manslaughter, hit and run, driving under the influence and evading arrest. Newbury said he did not know Romero's immigration status.
State Route 76 was closed for several hours as authorities investigated.

The roadway was reopened about 4 a.m.

Debbi Baker: (619) 293-1710; (Contact)

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/ ... ndex=85448

I'll watch for follow up articles and the announcement that he is officially an illegal.

JohnDoe2 wrote:

I'll watch for follow up articles and the announcement that he is officially an illegal.

Shouldn't this have been posted in the "Other Topics" forum until his immigration status has been ascertained? The guy may very well be an illegal but to assume that without evidence is racial profiling.

Originally Posted by MW

JohnDoe2 wrote:

I'll watch for follow up articles and the announcement that he is officially an illegal.

Shouldn't this have been posted in the "Other Topics" forum until his immigration status has been ascertained? The guy may very well be an illegal but to assume that without evidence is racial profiling. :wink:

The police officer brought up the issue of his legal status in the article. Not me.

JohnDoe2 wrote:

The police officer brought up the issue of his legal status in the article. Not me.

My point, exactly. There has been no status determination and we shouldn't assume his status until it has been made official. This is an illegal immigration debate forum. Just saying..........

One of his legs was severed at the knee but he still tried to escape officers and hopped about 50 feet before he fell to the ground.

Good Lord, what a jerk this guy is. Causing a death and two injuries and then trying to flee the scene on one leg. Whether illegal or legal, this guy deserves to be put away for a long time.

Ostrich

TheOstrich wrote:

One of his legs was severed at the knee but he still tried to escape officers and hopped about 50 feet before he fell to the ground.

Good Lord, what a jerk this guy is.

Yeah, and he's not too bright either. If he would have escaped, I'm almost sure he would have bled to death.

Originally Posted by MW

JohnDoe2 wrote:

The police officer brought up the issue of his legal status in the article. Not me.

My point, exactly. There has been no status determination and we shouldn't assume his status until it has been made official. This is an illegal immigration debate forum. Just saying..........

The cop wouldn't have brought it up if he didn't have reason to believe that he was illegal.
However local cops can not state that someone is illegal until it has been confirmed by I.C.E.
The local noon TV news said that he was illegal but it isn't on their web site yet.

JohnDoe2 wrote:

The local noon TV news said that he was illegal but it isn't on their web site yet.

Okay, at least that's something.

I hope you understand why it is important that we not assume that folks are illegal just because they have a Spanish surname or some policeman says he doesn't know their status. IMO, the policeman probably shouldn't have said anything either, not until he was sure.

Let's not give our enemies ammunition to use against us.

Victim in fatal Pala crash identified as musician, student from Riverside area

By Debbi Baker (Contact) Union-Tribune Staff Writer

PALA — A suspected drunken driver fleeing from officers slammed head-on into another vehicle on state Route 76 Sunday night, killing a 27-year-old man.

The driver, identified as 23-year-old Silvero Morales Romero of Vista, had his leg amputated in the crash yet still tried to elude authorities by hopping away after rolling his truck down an embankment, CHP Officer Eric Newbury said.

A California Highway Patrol officer spotted Romero speeding south on Interstate 15 in a 2001 Ford Explorer and pulled him over at Rainbow Valley Boulevard just after 7 p.m., Newbury said.

Romero, who did not have a driver's license, briefly stopped but took off again when the officer asked for his identification. He was driving around 100 mph and weaving in and out of lanes, Newbury said.

Romero exited at state Route 76, headed west and ran a red light at the intersection with Old Highway 395, Newbury said.

At that point, the officer who was pursuing him lost sight of the truck and backed off but continued to follow with his lights and sirens off, Newbury said.


Douglas Tarry

Romero then crossed over the double yellow lines and collided head-on with a 1999 Toyota pickup. The driver, identified as Douglas Tarry of Moreno Valley in Riverside County, was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Romero's truck then crashed into a 2004 Ford F-350 being driven by a 50-year-old man from Barstow. He and his 43-year-old wife suffered minor injuries, Newbury said.

Romero's truck rolled several times down an embankment until it came to a stop in a ditch.

Romero crawled out of the truck and hopped about 50 feet before he fell to the ground, Newbury said.

He was taken to a hospital and will be booked on several felony charges including manslaughter, hit and run, driving under the influence and evading arrest. Newbury said he did not know Romero's immigration status.

State Route 76 was closed for several hours as authorities investigated. The roadway was reopened about 4 a.m.

Newbury said that in a pursuit it is up to the individual officer to decide whether to continue it.

Newbury said individual officers chasing motorists have the authority to determine whether it is safe to continue the pursuit.

In this case, the officer determined that the speeding driver was an danger to the public and he backed off with the hope that the driver would slow down. The collision happened seconds later, Newbury said.

Necole Cameron of El Segundo, who was one of Tarry's best friends, said he was a singer and a guitar player who played in a band called Agrypnia.

He was attending college in Los Angeles, earning a degree in sound engineering and was just finishing his last semester, she said. Tarry was single and is survived by his parents and a younger sister, she said.

Debbi Baker: (619) 293-1710; (Contact)
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