Uninvolved motorist killed in police pursuit

By: YVETTE URREA - Staff Writer | Wednesday, September 6, 2006 1:50 AM PDT ∞

CARLSBAD ---- A San Marcos man was thrown from his pickup and suffered fatal injuries when the vehicle was hit by a suspected car thief who was believed to be intoxicated and was fleeing from police early Tuesday, police said.

"It was a pretty horrific impact," Carlsbad police Lt. Bill Rowland said.

The collision happened at 4:55 a.m. at Faraday Avenue and El Camino Real, Rowland said. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the collision at the request of Carlsbad Police Department because it involved a patrol officer.

The incident began just two minutes prior to the crash when Carlsbad police Sgt. Mickey Williams saw a white 1994 Oldsmobile sedan run a red light and speed on southbound El Camino Real, CHP Officer Tom Kerns said.

Williams caught up to the Oldsmobile and tried to pull the driver over but he refused to pull over and accelerated away at speeds up to 90 mph, Kerns said. The driver slowed to about 80 mph as he neared Faraday Avenue and El Camino Real but struck a Toyota pickup that was turning left onto southbound El Camino Real, he said.

The Oldsmobile hit the Toyota in the side and pushed the cab portion of the truck inward about 2 to 3 feet, Kerns said. The Toyota's driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the pickup and suffered fatal head injuries, he said.

The Oldmobile's driver, later identified as Karl Joseph Russell, 28, of Phoenix, ran from his vehicle which had turned onto its side, Kerns said. The sergeant started to run after him but Russell allegedly told him he had a gun and would shoot, so Williams waited for backup, Rowland said.

Meanwhile, responding police and paramedics attempted to help the pickup truck driver, but he died at the scene. The medical examiner's office identified the man as Rodrigo Vega, 38, who worked for Calloway Golf. He is survived by his wife Theresa Vega, a medical examiner's investigator said.

When additional officers arrived, they set up a perimeter around the area and searched for Russell, Rowland said. He was found a short time later hiding near a vacant building and was taken into custody, the lieutenant said.

Rowland said it appears that the Oldsmobile may have been stolen from an Oceanside home. The registered owners of the vehicle are on vacation and when officers went to the home, they found it ransacked in an apparent burglary, he said.

Russell, who was initially checked out by paramedics, later complained of dizziness and was taken to Tri-City Medical Center and then Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, where he remained later Tuesday for evaluation, Rowland said.

The CHP arrested Russell on suspicion of felony evading causing serious injury or death, felony driving under the influence causing serious injury or death, and felony hit and run causing serious injury or death, Kerns said. Investigators are still looking into the possibility of charging him with manslaughter, he said.

-- Contact staff writer Yvette Urrea at (760) 901-4076 or yurrea@nctimes.com.

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19 comment(s)[-]Go to Top

Good job by carlsbad PD wrote on Sep 6, 2006 8:35 AM:This is a tough call by these officer. So now will the public blame the police for chasing the bad guy. Or will sanity prevail and put the responsibility of the death on the bad guy?

Jim wrote on Sep 6, 2006 9:22 AM:Sanity will prevail and put half the responsibility of the death on the driver who wasn't wearing his seatbelt.

Nate wrote on Sep 6, 2006 10:30 AM:I hope that a 94 oldsmobile was worht a person life. With all the technology the poloce have I cant believe they still chase someone suspected of a nonviolent crime. I feel horrible for the victims family.

To Nate wrote on Sep 6, 2006 11:47 AM:Some of you miss the point completely. We all feel for the victim's family. If, however, the police don't enforce the law this problem would get worse (people running red lights, etc) instead of better.

To Nate wrote on Sep 6, 2006 12:19 PM:I agree. Why are cops chasing criminals for a non violent crimes. I would think that chasing a suspect under the influence would make matters worse. Maybe if they had a chopper following the car, the officer could have back off the persuit a little. You can't outrun the ghetto bird! On the other hand, I do no blame the officer for the fatality of the innocent bystander. RIP to the victim but maybe if he was wearing his seat belt, maybe he would still be alive. If the suspect seemed to be a threat to the officer, then by all means take him out quickly. If that was my car that was stolen, I'd hope that the police would chase down the suspect and retrieve my car. In the eyes of the public, the officer is either damned if he do or damned if he don't. Very tough decision!!!

Daren wrote on Sep 6, 2006 12:36 PM:There is NOTHING non-violent about stealing a car and evading the police while drunk. Simply driving drunk is a violent assault on the other drivers and pedestrians on the streets. Hey nate, you need to wake up!

ok nate wrote on Sep 6, 2006 1:02 PM:the officers had no idea to the man's intentions. You run a red light, I am going to report you to police. You dont stop, you have something to hide. If the police ignored the incident, he could have been a murderer or a rapist. Think buddy!

Time to shoot wrote on Sep 6, 2006 1:51 PM:Good for the cops. Too many of these kinda crimes are happening. I hope Foley is gonna get his too, endangering traffic, and just being a general lousy person. Not role model material.

Pallie & Summer wrote on Sep 6, 2006 2:01 PM:Nate, stealing a car and running a red light is not what you call non-violent. This driver was ... driving recklessly, he would have hit the other guy whether the police were following him or not. The question is not whether the 94 Oldsmobile is worth a person's life but how many lives were saved because the police officer did his job. Any death in this type of situation is unfortunate, but placing blame on the officer who was only doing his job is completely unfair. P.S. Learn to type...

My Father's House Church wrote on Sep 6, 2006 3:00 PM:We will miss our brother Rodrigo Vega. He was a faithful man, a man of honor. R.I.P our borther. -My Fathers House Church Members

Lets outlaw all police pursuits! wrote on Sep 6, 2006 7:19 PM:Let them all get a way! the police won't mind not having to rishk thier lives. The bad guys get your car and we all go home at night!

No more police pursuits! wrote on Sep 6, 2006 7:21 PM:Yahoo, I don't have to risk my life somebody's property and can go eat donuts and coffee at Starbucks. Man this job keep getting better everyday! Plus I don't have to act on crimes when I see them in an off duty status. I can have a life now! Great! When does the policy start! Honoey I'll be home in time for supper tonight! For the first time in my career! I wish!

Hey people just create a bill! wrote on Sep 6, 2006 7:29 PM:Vote that we don't have to chase the bad guys and we will do it! We come after the excitment is over. We investigate the traffci collision of your loved one and go home! We'll take your report of a stolen car as it is drievn away! What? That makes you sad? Be deal, we are all just a bunch of flunkies, right? MOst have 4 year or 2 year degrees. Some have Master Degrees. So we would love to not have to risk our lives! Especially since most of your don't appreciate it! So change the law and make our job safer. We get the pay. It isn't much but at least now we can have a better odds of enjoying it if we don't have to risk our lives. No more high speed chases. No more high speed chases! Yeah!!!!!!

Foolish!! wrote on Sep 6, 2006 9:41 PM:For a force that professes to be so educated they sure make foolish decisions...this was one and I see no surcease in sight.

Better Planning wrote on Sep 6, 2006 10:24 PM:I feal sorry for both the famlies and the police officers that are out there getting paid so little to protect all of us, I work across the street from where this accident happend and I had to park 3 miles away and walk to work, because they had to close all of el camino real from college to palomar airport rd. it happend at 5am and it was not open untill almost 2pm thats almost 9 hours to complete an investigation. And there was no one to help me get to work on time, so I dont get fired!

Nate wrote on Sep 8, 2006 2:56 PM:Do you people really believe runnig a redlight is worth a police chase. Daren do you really feel that he would of been driving that fast if he didn't have a police car behind him. If you know for sure he is a violent person wanted for a violent crime then I understand, but if you are not sure putting the public at risk for a car theft is never worth it. To "hey people create a bill" if you have a degree you should learn how to type and spell. I sure hope you are not a police officer. I like to think the people out to protect us are a little more intelligent. Besides if we create a bill we mught see it take affect by the time our cars have wings

pallie and summer wrote on Sep 8, 2006 3:07 PM:Yes at 5:00am there are alot of people he would of harmed on the road. Everything you said was what ifs. I feel sorry for you.

SARAI wrote on Sep 14, 2006 1:23 PM:this are really sad moments the family vega are passing threw. many dont care. i really want to say that who ever did this,gets something that it would hurt them there hole life., because killing a lovig person, innoccent, has no price. R.I.P Brother Rodrigo Vega From your church that will always love you and miss you.

Y.vega wrote on Apr 28, 2008 4:12 PM:Some of you dont care but put your selves in this position. If someone you realy loved was killed like that how would you feel. He was a great dad,husband,brother,and son and everyone loved him. Everyday I feel lonely and sad with a whole in my heart some understand but the ones that dont open your eyes.R.I.P I love you dad and always will.

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