An elderly man and woman were found dead in their Santee home Sunday by San Diego County Sheriff‘s deputies.

The deaths in the 300 block of Lantern Way were reported around 11:25 a.m., according to Lt. Michael Krugh.

Both victims suffered head trauma, Krugh said. Their names were being withheld pending notification to the next of kin.

Krugh said there is no outstanding suspect and no danger to the community.

Anyone with information was asked to call homicide detectives at (858) 285-6330 or after hours at (858) 565-5200, or anonymously contact San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

City News Service contributed to this article.

Authorities have publicly identified one of four people killed last week in a late-night traffic crash on a rural road near Pala Mesa Resort.

Hope Wood, 48, was a passenger in a westbound Jeep Gladiator pickup truck that was struck head-on by an eastbound Chrysler 300 sedan on State Route 76 just east of Horse Ranch Creek Road in the Pala area about 11:15 p.m. Friday, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Along with Wood, another passenger in the Jeep and the driver of each vehicle died at the scene of the wreck. Their names have been withheld pending family notification.

A third person who had been riding in the truck was hospitalized for treatment of severe injuries, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

–City News Service

Four people were killed and a fifth seriously injured in a multi-vehicle crash on State Route 76 in Pala Mesa late Friday night.

The California Highway Patrol said a single driver in a Chrysler 300 sedan traveling eastbound veered to the left and into oncoming traffic at 11:18 p.m. on a stretch of highway east of Horse Ranch Creek Road.

A Jeep Gladiator collided with the Chrysler, and a following Toyota Camry was side-swiped.

The driver of the Chrysler, along with the driver of the Jeep and two passengers died at the scene. A third passenger in the Jeep was seriously injured.

Officers said the identities of the victims will be released by the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office.

They said it isn’t known whether alcohol or drugs were involved in the collision and asked anyone with information to call (760) 643-3400.

A driver speeding the wrong way on Interstate 5 in Chula Vista early Wednesday caused a fiery collision that killed her along with a teenage driver, authorities said.

The 67-year-old woman was heading north on the southbound side of the freeway shortly before 3:30 a.m. when her Honda Civic plowed into an oncoming Dodge Challenger just north of Palomar Street, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The impact caused the Dodge to burst into flames and left its driver, a 16-year-old boy, and the woman trapped in their mangled vehicles, CHP public-affairs Officer Salvador Castro said. Both died at the scene of the accident. Their names were withheld pending family notification.

The wreck left the southbound side of the interstate closed in the area for hours.

“A toxicology report is pending through the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine if alcohol and or drugs were a factor,” Castro said.

Updated at 1:50 p.m. April 10, 2024

–City News Service

The five Marines who died in the CH-53E helicopter crash on Tuesday in remote Pine Valley in East San Diego County were identified Friday by the U.S. Marine Corps.

All five were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and were based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, USMC Capt. Stephanie Leguizamon said.

The identities of the Marines are:

— Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis, 21, of Olathe, Kansas, a CH-53E helicopter crew chief;

— Sgt. Alec Langen, 23, of Chandler, Arizona, a CH-53E helicopter crew chief;

— Capt. Benjamin Moulton, 27, of Emmett, Idaho, a CH-53E helicopter pilot;

— Capt. Jack Casey, 26, of Dover, New Hampshire, a CH-53E helicopter pilot;

— Capt. Miguel Nava, 28, of Traverse City, Michigan, a CH-53E helicopter pilot.

Davis enlisted in the Marine Corps on Sept. 3, 2019, and was promoted to the rank of lance corporal on Jan. 1, 2024. His decorations include the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

Langen enlisted in the Marine Corps on Sept. 14, 2017, and was promoted to the rank of sergeant on Oc. 1, 2022. His decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.

Moulton commissioned in the Marine Corps on March 29, 2019, and was promoted to the rank of captain on Aug. 1, 2023. His decorations include the National Defense Service Medal.

Casey commissioned in the Marine Corps on May 16, 2019, and was promoted to the rank of captain on Sept. 1, 2023. His decorations include the National Defense Service Medal.

Nava commissioned in the Marine Corps on May 26, 2017, and was promoted to the rank of captain on Nov. 1, 2021. His decorations include the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

“We have been confronted with a tragedy that is every service family’s worst fear,” said Lt. Col. Nicholas J. Harvey, commanding officer of HMH-361. “Our top priority now is supporting the families of our fallen heroes, and we ask for your respect and understanding as they grieve. The Flying Tigers family stands strong and includes the friends and community who have supported our squadron during this challenging time. We will get through this together.”

At the time of the crash, the CH-53E and crew were conducting routine flight training. The crash was under investigation.

The CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter departed Tuesday from Creech Air Force Base, in Indian Springs, Nevada — about 30 miles northwest of Las Vegas – – and headed for Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. It was last heard from around 11:30 that night.

The aircraft was located by civil authorities in Pine Valley, in East County, at 9:08 a.m. the next day, military officials reported Wednesday.

–City News Service

Five Miramar-based Marines have been confirmed dead following the crash of a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter in stormy weather on Tuesday night, the Marine Corps said Thursday.

The heavy-lift copter departed Creech Air Force Base in Nevada and was last heard from around 11:30 p.m.

The aircraft was located in Pine Valley at 9:08 a.m. on Thursday after a search that was joined by Cal Fire and the San Diego Sheriff’s Department.

Maj. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte, commanding general of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Miramar issued the following statement:

“It is with a heavy heart and profound sadness that I share the loss of five outstanding Marines from 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and the Flying Tigers while conducting a training flight last night. These pilots and crewmembers were serving a calling greater than self and were proud to do so.”

As a matter of policy, identities of deceased service members are not released until 24 hours after all next-of-kin notifications have been completed.

President Joe Biden thanked San Diego authorities for their assistance in the search and offered condolences to the families of the Marines who died.

“Jill and I are heartbroken at the loss of five U.S. Marines, whose aircraft crashed while flying from Nevada to California during a routine training mission,” Biden said in a statement. “As the Department of Defense continues to assess what occurred, we extend our deepest condolences to their families, their squadron, and the U.S. Marine Corps as we grieve the loss of five of our nation’s finest warriors.

“I am deeply grateful to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary-Civil Air Patrol, and other federal, state, and local agencies for their professionalism and dedication in supporting search and recovery efforts.”

Efforts to recover the remains of the Marines and equipment have begun and an investigation is underway, said 3rd MAW Capt. Stephanie Leguizamon.

“Though we understand the inherent risks of military service, any loss of life is always difficult,” the captain said. “The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing stands unwavering in its commitment to supporting the families, friends, and fellow service members of the fallen Marines.”

The CH-53E is a heavy-lift helicopter often used for transporting troops and equipment from shore to shore.

City News Service contributed to this article.

The captain of a dive boat that caught fire and sank off the California coast in 2019, killing 34 people on board in one of the state’s deadliest maritime disasters, was found guilty on Monday of a federal charge of seaman’s manslaughter.

Jerry Boylan, 70, was convicted by a U.S. District Court jury in Los Angeles on a single charged count of “misconduct or neglect of a ship officer” under a federal homicide statute dating from steamboat accidents in the early 1800s.

The felony conviction, capping a 10-day trial, carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, according to Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles. Sentencing was set for Feb. 8. Boylan remains free on $75,000 bond.

He was captain of the 75-foot dive boat Conception when the vessel went up in flames in the early morning hours of Sept. 2, 2019, while anchored in Platt’s Harbor near Santa Cruz Island, off the Santa Barbara Coast, during a sport diving trip.

Thirty-three passengers and one member of the crew died in the Labor Day holiday weekend blaze. They had been sleeping in a bunk room below deck when the fire began.

Media have called blaze the most lethal modern maritime accident on record in California.

The five surviving crew members, including Boylan, had been above deck in berths behind the wheelhouse and escaped by leaping overboard as the burning vessel sank in the Pacific. They told investigators that flames coming from the passenger quarters were too intense to save anyone trapped below.

But the jury unanimously agreed with prosecutors that Boylan, as charged in the indictment, acted with “reckless disregard for human life by engaging in misconduct, gross negligence, and inattention to his duties”.

Among lapses cited by prosecutors, Boylan neglected to maintain a night watch or roving patrol as required, failed to conduct sufficient fire drills and crew emergency training and left the vessel without attempting to fight the blaze or rescue passengers, even though he was unhurt.

Prosecutors said he was the first to abandon ship and did so without using the boat’s public address system to warn passengers and crew about the fire.

Defense attorneys cast blame on the vessel’s owner for not insisting on night patrols or fire training by his fleet’s captains or crews, according to an account of the trial by the Los Angeles City News Service.

Boylan’s lawyers argued that the flames quickly closed in on their client, and that he remained on the boat long enough to broadcast a distress call to the U.S. Coast Guard and only jumped overboard when he was certain he would not survive otherwise.

While federal investigators said they were unable to determine precisely what triggered the blaze, they found it began toward the rear of the main deck where passengers had plugged cellphones and other devices into lithium ion battery chargers.

Following the disaster, the Coast Guard issued a safety bulletin urging limits on such batteries and chargers aboard passenger vessels.

A 52-year-old Chula Vista man flipped his sportscar off the freeway and fatally crashed down into a ravine Sunday, killing himself and the passenger.

The crash occurred at 2:30 a.m. on westbound state Route 54 near Woodman Drive in the Bay Terraces neighborhood of San Diego, according to the California Highway Patrol.

For reasons under investigation, the driver of the black Nissan 370z veered out of a lane on the freeway, and struck a guardrail at a high-rate of speed which caused the vehicle to overturn.

Both the driver and a man in a passenger seat sustained fatal injuries, and both were pronounced dead at the scene.

It was not immediately known whether alcohol or drugs factored into the crash.

The victims’ names are being withheld pending family notification.

Authorities urged anyone with information related to the crash to call the CHP at 858-293-6000.

City News Service contributed to this article.

Many of us remember how things changed when the COVID-19 pandemic first took hold. When the first wave of lockdowns occurred, the streets were practically empty of traffic as businesses everywhere closed their doors due to quarantine. Pollution even noticeably dropped in some places. But those lockdowns are long over, and in the wake of the pandemic, California has seen a significant surge in traffic accidents and fatalities.

This has led to increased concerns about traffic safety, particularly in San Diego, which has instituted a new campaign to try to stem the tide of traffic fatalities.

The Hard Numbers

According to a news release by TRIP, there has been a disturbing 22 percent increase in traffic fatalities from 2019 to 2022. On top of that, Californians now face a statistically higher chance of being killed in a car crash — 28%, which is nothing less than alarming.

A dramatic increase in traffic accidents not only takes a heavy toll in terms of lives lost and ruined, but there’s also a tremendous economic impact. Traffic accidents can cost billions of dollars each year from lost productivity, medical expenses, property damage, and more. How much? $19.99 billion, according to the US Department of Transportation.

This puts a heavy economic burden on the state, as well as individuals, who may end up paying large deductibles, as well as seeing their insurance premiums spike as insurers struggle to meet ever-increasing payouts. San Diego is no exception to this rise in accidents and has taken steps to combat it (more on that below)

Why Is This Happening?

So, what precisely is causing this surge in traffic fatalities? A number of factors:

• The lockdowns during the pandemic led to empty roads, which (ironically) led to more speeding and reckless driving. Now that the roads are full of traffic again, that same reckless driving behavior is proving deadlier.
• The widespread use of smartphones has created a problem with distracted driving nationwide.
• Like many cities, San Diego also has issues with motorists driving while impaired.
• California has long had problems with infrastructure, and that’s no less true in San Diego. Intersections and roads have become more dangerous due to decaying infrastructure.

The Cost of Rising Traffic Accidents

Not only does the spike in traffic accidents cost San Diego motorists in terms of emotional damage and car or medical bills, it can also lead to them paying more for auto insurance — even if they haven’t been in an accident themselves. As Ross Martin at The Zebra points out, San Diego drivers pay $1810 a year for car insurance, which is 18% more than the national average. He also points out that if you’re looking for cheap California car insurance, you could go with a company like Wawasena or Geico, which could cost you hundreds of dollars less annually.

What San Diego is Doing About It

To address some of these issues, San Diego unveiled the Vision Zero campaign, which sought to entirely eradicate traffic fatalities and major injuries in San Diego by 2025. Unfortunately, that goal has proven elusive thus far, in no small part due to California’s urgent need for major infrastructure spending.

But San Diego isn’t giving up on trying to improve road safety. The city has taken a multi-pronged approach to remedying these issues by investing in infrastructure improvements like more traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, and better signage in accident-prone areas. Law enforcement is also taking action, stepping up efforts to crack down on dangerous driving behavior like distracted/reckless driving and speeding. San Diego is also working on raising public awareness of these issues and promoting safe driving habits among San Diego motorists.

Staying Safe on the San Diego Roads

So what can you do personally to take steps toward road safety? Fortunately, you’re probably already doing quite a bit of it. Some things you can do include:

• Avoid distracted driving. Put down your smartphone or tablet and keep your eyes on the road at all times.
• Obey the traffic laws. Keeping to the speed limit, not running red lights or stop signs, and otherwise respecting the rules of the road will keep both you and those around you safe.
• Be vigilant. Drive in a state of high alertness, watching out for “the other guy” and other potential hazards, particularly at intersections and crosswalks, which is where most traffic accidents occur.
• If you’re in a position to do so, buy a car with superior safety features, or have extra safety devices installed on your car. Incidentally, this can bring down those insurance premiums, as many insurers will offer a discount for having additional safety measures on your car.
• Push for change. Support government initiatives that promote safer streets, and vote for regulations that will make the roads safer.

Three people were killed, including the gunman, and six others were injured Wednesday evening in a shooting at a famed biker bar in Orange County.

The gunman, a retired Ventura County Police Department sergeant, was shot and killed within minutes by responding Orange County Sheriff’s deputies.

The mass shooting occurred at about 7 p.m. Wednesday at Cook’s Corner in the 19100 block of Santiago Canyon Road.

KCAL reported the gunman was a retired Ventura Police Department sergeant who opened fire as a result of a domestic disturbance with his wife at the bar, and the wife was one of the victims who was killed. KCAL reported the gunman was with the Ventura department from 1984 until 2014.

Of the six people injured, five of them had gunshot wounds, Orange County Fire Authority Fire Authority Chief Brian Fennessy confirmed at an 11 p.m. news conference Wednesday. The nature of the sixth person’s injuries was unknown.

All six were taken to Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, where two were listed in critical condition and four others were considered stable, according to a statement from the hospital.

Sheriff’s officials said no deputies were injured.

Fox 11 reported a man named Maurice Nolan told the Orange County Register that one of the victims was his daughter and the shooter’s ex-wife. She was shot in the jaw, according to Fox 11.

Video from the scene clearly showed multiple bodies covered with sheets outside the bar.

Orange County Sheriff’s Department Undersheriff Jeff Hallock said at the news conference deputies had recovered at least one weapon believed to be used in the shooting at the scene and investigators were still gathering evidence and it was early to draw specific conclusions.

“We have a number of witnesses that we have to interview and we will be processing the scene throughout the night,” Hallock said.

Hallock said there were at least “30 to 40 witnesses” that investigators were slated to interview.

A man who had been on his way to Cook’s Corner told the station at the scene that friends of his were inside the bar when the shooting occurred and they saw the gunman, who was described as an older man with a gray beard. He said his friends were not injured.

Sheriff’s deputies and multiple ambulance crews swarmed to the scene, and all streets in the vicinity were shut down while an investigation was conducted. Orange County officials said Santiago Canyon Road was closed south of Crystal Canyon Road, El Toro Road was closed north of Ridgeline Road and Live Oak Canyon was closed east of El Toro/Santiago Canyon.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office posted online: “We are monitoring the shooting in Orange County and are coordinating with local officials as more details become available.”

Cook’s Corner is a well known bar and biker hangout. The building is believed to date back to the late 1800s, although it did not begin operating as a restaurant until the 1920s. The restaurant bills itself as “one of the most famous biker bars in Southern California.”

On Wednesday night, the bar was offering its weekly $8 spaghetti dinner special, along with a live band named M Street that was scheduled to begin playing at 6:30 p.m. Around 6 p.m., the band posted a short video on its Instagram page showing the stage being set up, with the ominous caption, “Cook’s Corner before the onslaught!”

A witness to the shooting told KTLA5 the band was playing when the sound of gunfire rang out inside the bar. The man said he saw “a guy that had a light blue shirt on, he had two guns in his hands.”

The witness told the station he heard a barrage of gunfire as the gunman maneuvered inside the bar. The gunman then ran out to the parking lot and retrieved what appeared to be a rifle or shotgun from a silver pickup and he began shooting again, the witness said.

Another witness told reporters he saw the gunman wielding some type of long rifle and engage in a gunfight with sheriff’s deputies.

Shortly after the shooting, a woman who had been inside the bar posted a series of photos showing blood smeared on the floor of the business. She wrote that the gunman fired four or six shots toward her, but she was not hit.

CBS 2 reported a pregnant woman encountered the gunman outside the bar and begged him not to shoot her. According to CBS, the shooter spared the woman and told her, ” Get out of here.”

Sen. Dave Min, D-Irvine, quickly issued a statement saying he was “heartbroken” by the shooting in his area.

“Our district is one of the safest areas in the country and yet we too are repeatedly afflicted with the scourge of mass shootings,” Min said. “An office park in Orange, a church in Laguna Woods, a bar in Trabuco Canyon.

“There is no place in America that is safe from the scourge of gun violence. There is no community not affected. My heart breaks for the families and loved ones of the victims. We cannot rest until we end gun violence in this country.”

Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, posted on social media, “This is heartbreaking news for our Orange County community. I’m thinking of the victims and their loved ones as we await more information from law enforcement.”

Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley said it was “disturbing to now learn that the suspect killed his wife or ex-wife during an argument. Another domestic dispute led to another mass shooting. We must do more to prevent senseless acts of gun violence and protect survivors.”

Regarding a question about similar events in Trabuco Canyon, Hallock replied, “These types of shootings are not commonplace in Orange County.”