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Body Found in Missing Woman’s Car in Kearny Mesa

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Caroline Anderson - Senior Support Specialist

Homicide detectives were called to an area of Kearny Mesa south of State Route 52 for the report of a suspicious death on Thursday.

San Diego police officers were in the 7700-block of Convoy Court on official business when they discovered a person dead inside a vehicle.

According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, the car found at the scene is registered to Grace Ann Hall, 23. Police have not yet confirmed if the body found inside the vehicle was the person who the car is registered to.

A bulletin recently issued by the San Diego Police Department identifies Hall as a missing person. It describes her as a white female, 5-foot-7, 150 pounds with blond hair and hazel eyes.

According to the SDPD bulletin, Hall was last seen around 8 p.m. on Mar. 20 driving a grey Toyota Camry in the 9100 block of Rebecca Avenue in Serra Mesa.

The police bulletin says Hall was supposed to travel to Sherman Oaks in Los Angeles for a job interview at an unknown home. At the time the bulletin was issued, investigators did not know if Hall had ever arrived in the Sherman Oaks area.

Police say Hall’s credit card had been used in Mira Mesa since her disappearance, but hadn’t been used since Mar. 27.

As for the body discovered by police on Thursday, investigators do not yet know if the person died from natural causes or if a crime has been committed.

The deceased person has not been yet been identified.

Officers have cordoned off a section of the street and are awaiting the arrival of the personnel from the county medical examiner’s office.

CHP Reveals Cause of I-5 Police Car Crash

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Caroline Anderson - Senior Support Specialist

Investigators have released new information on Sunday’s fiery crash involving a San Diego police patrol car.

According to California Highway Patrol investigators, the crash occurred after a police officer traveling south on Interstate 5 near Palm Avenue drifted onto the right shoulder and struck a sign.

The on-duty officer then turned to the left, hitting a gray Dodge Challenger according to the CHP.

The force of the impact pushed both cars into the center divide.

The patrol car burst into flames. Both drivers were able to get out of their vehicles and were treated for minor injuries officials said.

The names of the SDPD officer or additional victim involved in the crash have not been released. SDPD Officer Dan Lasher gave some details about the officer’s condition to NBC 7 San Diego Sunday.

“He was conscious and talking at the scene, but they were talking about a possible head injury, so he was taken to a local hospital to be checked out,” Lasher said.

CHP investigators said it’s not known why the patrol car drifted onto the right shoulder.

Driverless car crashes into elderly man on bench

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Caroline Anderson - Senior Support Specialist

An 82-year-old man suffered serious injuries Thursday when an unoccupied car rolled out of a convenience store parking lot in Alpine and crashed through the nearby bus stop where he was sitting.

The 1996 Volkswagen Jetta began rolling through the lot at Tavern Road and Alpine Boulevard about 11 a.m., shortly after the driver pulled up to a gas pump at the Circle K and got out to pay the clerk, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The runaway sedan rolled down a driveway and over a curb, then smashed into the bench on which Alpine resident Sidney Griffin was seated, CHP public- affairs Officer Brian Pennings said. The car came to a stop in the adjacent roadway, with Griffin underneath it.

Medics took the victim to Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego, where he was admitted in serious but stable condition, Pennings said.

It was not immediately clear why the vehicle began rolling on its own.

Police are searching for a man that sexually assaulted a woman at Historic Mission in Oceanside

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Caroline Anderson - Senior Support Specialist

Police are searching for an unknown man who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman on the grounds of a historic mission in Oceanside last month.

According to investigators, the sexual assault happened on Mar. 18 around 3:30 p.m. outside the Mission San Luis Rey on Mission Avenue.

Police say a man grabbed a female victim, fondled her and allegedly attempted to drag her into some nearby bushes. The woman fought back, striking the suspect, and was able to run away.

Three weeks later, police say the suspect is still at large. On Wednesday, officials released a composite sketch of the man.

Investigators describe him as a Hispanic man in his 30s, approximately 6-feet-tall and 200 pounds. He has brown or black shoulder-length hair, a moustache, a large mole on his neck and a tattoo of a snake on the back of his left forearm.

The Oceanside Police Department is asking anyone with information on this case to contact detectives handling the case at (760) 435-4824 or (800) 78-CRIME.

Shots fired near Belmont Park rollercoaster

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Caroline Anderson - Senior Support Specialist

Police are searching for a man who allegedly fired shots during an altercation at a beachfront amusement park in San Diego. According to authorities, no injuries were reported.

Friend: Murdered woman texted ‘help’ after leaving with Marine

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Caroline Anderson - Senior Support Specialist

The preliminary hearing for the Marine sergeant accused in the murder of his wife has started. The woman’s body was discovered near a lake last year. According to a friend of the victim, the woman texted the word “help” shortly after leaving on a dinner cruise with the suspect.

During the testimony, the friend said the victim was reluctant to go on the cruise with her estranged husband, but decided to go with him after his pregnant girlfriend assured her it was fine. The girlfriend claimed that she could not accompany him due to her pregnancy. She is also a suspect in the woman’s murder case.

Discrepancies in the suspect’s narrative about what happened to the victim during their outing led the friend to report the woman as missing. Further investigation led to the discovery of BDSM paraphernalia in the suspect’s home. Authorities allege the victim was forced to participate in sexual behavior prior to being killed.

Driver in Santaluz Stroller Crash Faces Multiple Charges

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Caroline Anderson - Senior Support Specialist

A woman in North County is facing charges of vehicular manslaughter, failure to stop at a red light, and failure to yield to a pedestrian. The suspect is believed to have ran a red light at an intersection while the victim was pushing a 14-month old toddler in a stroller. The woman pushing the stroller suffered serious injuries and later died at the hospital. The toddler was hospitalized in intensive care for several injuries, including a broken rib and skull fracture.

Stories like these are difficult to hear. Unfortunately, these types of tragedies occur on a daily basis. Although no amount of monetary compensation can undo tragedy, our San Diego personal injury lawyers understand that financial compensation can help you pick up the pieces and begin your road to recovery.

REPORT: ALARM FAILED IN CABLE CAR ACCIDENT

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Caroline Anderson - Senior Support Specialist

Commentary by Personal Injury Lawyer Sam Spital:

“On February 11, 2013, the electronic edition of the UT San Diego reported seven individuals were injured when a San Francisco Cable Car came to an abrupt stop after hitting a loose bolt on the tracks; the bolts are intended to trigger an alarm and alert operators of an obstruction. Other sources reviewed by my law office noted the cable car system in general is checked nightly (apparently they are not very comprehensive in performing these tasks), however, this incident has raised the level of awareness and a San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency spokesman stated they will make weekly checks to test the tightness of the bolts.

It is far too common for traffic lights &/or stop signs to be added at intersections and remedial efforts initiated by governmental agencies after an accident or injury. It strains credulity why more proactive measures are not taken to protect the safety and life of unsuspecting victims who rely upon and ride public transportation. Attorneys for the victims will likely obtain and use the maintenance records as a basis to establish negligence by the Municipality that operates the cable cars. A timely government claim must first be filed before initiating a lawsuit. It is not necessarily the issue of compensating victims, but to send a message to those in charge as well as city officials and the Mayor to prevent this and other situations from happening. The public deserves more when considering the potential risk of catastrophic injuries and of course the reason taxes are paid to support such activities.”

– Sam Spital

EIGHT KILLED IN TOUR BUS CRASH VEHICLE CARRYING GROUP FROM TIJUANA OVERTURNS ON WAY BACK FROM BIG BEAR LAKE (Sam Spital)

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Caroline Anderson - Senior Support Specialist

Commentary by Sam Spital, San Diego Personal Injury Lawyer:

“The UT San Diego electronic edition on February 4, 2013 reported at least eight individuals were killed and nearly 40 others sustained minor to life threatening injuries as a result of a crash by a tour bus and two other vehicles as the bus was returning on a two lane highway from Big Bear Lake in the mountains of San Bernardino County in Southern California, about 80 miles east of Los Angeles. The bus driver claimed he was having brake problems as it came down the mountain, struck the rear end of an automobile and then flipped over and crashed into a truck that was pulling a trailer.

The reporter did not provide any further details as to the victims, drivers, and/or information in particular relating to the service history of the bus. It is likely there will be wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits filed by family members as well as those injured as a result of this horrific accident. An investigation may establish a legal basis to file claims against the governmental agency responsible for the roadway on the grounds it was unsafe, there were possibly inadequate warning signs posted and/or sufficient and proper brake check areas off the road for truckers to safely check the operation of their air brake systems and/or halt a truck or vehicle that might lose control or have brake problems.”

–Sam Spital

3 teens injured after fireworks explosion in Encinitas-All 3 treated for face, arm, leg injuries (Sam Spital)

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Caroline Anderson - Senior Support Specialist

COMMENTARY BY SAM SPITAL, SAN DIEGO PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY:

“The ABC Channel 10 online edition on January 31, 2013 reported three boys, two who were age 15 and a third who was 17 years old, were all hospitalized due to injuries they each sustained when they were playing with fireworks that exploded. The three teenagers had to be treated for facial, arm and leg injuries after they were flown to neighboring hospitals from Encinitas, a tony North County city.

While fireworks are illegal in many cities and states, it is unclear whether there was any parent at home at the time. Each year around July 4tth, there are similar stories of children, teens and adults who have been seriously injured when lighting various types of fireworks, and that is certainly the primary reason they have been outlawed. However, being close to Tijuana and other parts of Mexico makes it much easier for fireworks to be taken (illegally) across the border and brought into San Diego. One business that was started over 30 years ago is Phantom Fireworks. They have over 1,200 locations throughout the United States and is also known to supply fireworks on the 4th of July to numerous retail chains https://www.fireworks.com/locations/

It is estimated that about 2,000 individuals sustain eye injuries in the United States due to fireworks each year. According to the most recent data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in 2011, there were approximately 10,000 individuals who were treated in hospitals due to injuries from using &/or lighting fireworks. Nonetheless, in some cities in the United States it continues to be legal to purchase and use fireworks as long as a permit is obtained by the municipality. Regardless, personal injury attorneys have filed various lawsuits from time to time against the manufacturer of fireworks as well as the sellers; yet, this does not seem to have a huge impact on the manufacturing, distribution and sale that continues year after year. Many cities help sponsor shows, however, in an effort to curb the improper or unlawful use or display fireworks.”