Fatal crash suspect's mental competence questioned
By: North County Times wire services | ∞
VISTA -- A mental competency examination was ordered Tuesday for a Phoenix man accused of slamming a stolen car into a pickup truck during a police chase in Carlsbad, killing the other driver.
Karl Russell, 30, will return to court Feb. 22, when a judge will determine whether he understands the charges against him and can assist his attorney at trial.
Russell is charged with murder, gross vehicular manslaughter and evading police in connection with the Sept. 5, 2006, death of Rodrigo Vega, 38, of San Marcos, who was killed as he was driving to work at Callaway Golf. Vega was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from his vehicle, a California Highway Patrol officer said.
The chase started about 5 a.m. when a Carlsbad police officer saw a white 1994 Oldsmobile sedan run a red light at Tamarack Avenue and El Camino Real and tried to pull the driver over, the CHP officer said.
Russell drove down El Camino Real at speeds reaching 90 mph, then drove through a red light at Faraday Avenue, crashing the Oldsmobile into the side of Vega's Toyota pickup, the officer said.
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