NBC San Diego reports that an unlicensed driver is believed to be responsible for the deaths of two people and seriously injuring two others in El Cajon on Saturday night. The man pled not guilty to the charges against him in court on Wednesday, May 11.
Sgt. Victoria Houseman with the San Diego Police Department told reporters that the fatal crash happened at approximately 9:00 p.m. at the intersection of Camino Del Rio and Sports Arena Boulevard when 33-year-old Edgar Jesus Suarez was driving his 1999 Toyota pickup truck westbound when he struck a median.
The pickup truck was sent airborne and landed on top of a 2015 Toyota Sienna minivan being driven by a 21-year-old. An 81-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man who were passengers in the minivan died at the scene.
A 46-year-old passenger and the driver were seriously injured in the crash and were transported via ambulance to an area hospital for treatment. Their current condition was not released at the time of the report.
Suarez also suffered broken bones and other injuries. A blood test at the hospital three hours after the incident indicated that Suarez had a blood alcohol level of .16 percent, twice the legal limit of .08 percent.
Although he was kept overnight at the hospital for observation, Suarez was immediately arrested on the charges of DUI, driving without a license, and other related charges. Suarez entered a plea of not guilty in court yesterday.
San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Cally Bright said that if he is convicted of all the charges against him, Suarez faces up to 15 years in state prison.
The San Diego Police Department asks anyone with any information about the crash to contact Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
