These two guys I knew were racing just behind my school after practice. Racing over 70MPH in a 20MPH zone (according to the paper) one hit the other and smashed into a front lawn and went though the home killing a 75yr old grandfather. Damn, must suck for them. Sucks for the family too. And this is right behind my school too!! I knew the guys too!!! All I can say, is i'm disgusted. Heres the article.....
<< Grandfather saves 5-year-old's life
YVETTE URREA
Staff Writer
VISTA When it came down to the last fleeting seconds of Uriel Valdez Oropeza's life, he made a choice that his family said was completely in character. He saved his granddaughter's life with the push of his hand.
Oropeza was the kind of grandfather all the children flocked to during family gatherings. A retired landscaper who lived with his son's family for 12 years, the 68-year-old man liked to play with the little ones.
"The kids loved him," said Oropeza's nephew, Ignacio Valdez.
Late Wednesday afternoon, sheriff's officials said, a Ford Ranger truck driven by a drag-racing teen-ager crashed through a brick retaining wall, careened down an embankment and struck Oropeza in the front yard of the home owned by his son Manuel, 35.
Oropeza was picking flowers with his 5-year-old granddaughter, Daisy. He pushed Daisy out of the way before the vehicle struck, dragging him through the garage before smashing through a bedroom wall. He was found under the truck in the bedroom, Valdez said.
Sheriff's investigators arrested two Vista High School students, ages 16 and 17, on suspicion of drag racing and vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.
Oropeza was pronounced dead at Tri-City Medical Center shortly after the 4 p.m. crash at Angeles Vista and Manor drives, said fire Capt. Rick Minnick.
Daisy Oropeza was struck by the bumper of the truck and suffered only some bruises.
"It was stupidity," said Valdez. "Nobody instilled in them (the teen-age drivers) the responsibility of a deadly weapon."
Sheriff's Sgt. Midge Masis said the two Oceanside youths were taken to Juvenile Hall.
The teens were allegedly racing a 1988 Toyota pickup and a 2001 Ford Ranger northbound on Manor Drive. As they approached the intersection, the Ford's driver who was behind the other truck suddenly pulled into the southbound lane just as the Toyota turned left, ignoring a four-way stop. The Toyota crashed into the Ford, sending both trucks out of control, Masis said.
Masis said deputies were trying to determine how quickly the vehicles were going at the time of the crash. Oropeza's niece, Rosa Avila, 42, said investigators told the family that the teen-agers had to be driving a minimum of 70 mph to cause the damage to the house.
Avila said she was upset because the driver of the Ford, which struck her uncle, did not check on him or the child. The driver instead went to check on the condition of the other teen-ager.
Since the crash, Valdez said they have not heard from the family of the teen-agers.
The crash happened shortly after school and the speeding vehicles apparently narrowly missed some students who had just crossed the street, Avila said. Valdez said speeding and racing seem to be a problem in the neighborhood.
Neighbor Bonnie Hunter, who lives on Manor Drive, said she agrees it is a problem. She said as she pulled into her driveway she saw the teens revving their engines at the other end of the street.
"We have so many children on our street ... it is very scary," Hunter said.
Minutes later her son came in and told her there had been a crash.
"I hope something is done," she said. >>
<< Grandfather saves 5-year-old's life
YVETTE URREA
Staff Writer
VISTA When it came down to the last fleeting seconds of Uriel Valdez Oropeza's life, he made a choice that his family said was completely in character. He saved his granddaughter's life with the push of his hand.
Oropeza was the kind of grandfather all the children flocked to during family gatherings. A retired landscaper who lived with his son's family for 12 years, the 68-year-old man liked to play with the little ones.
"The kids loved him," said Oropeza's nephew, Ignacio Valdez.
Late Wednesday afternoon, sheriff's officials said, a Ford Ranger truck driven by a drag-racing teen-ager crashed through a brick retaining wall, careened down an embankment and struck Oropeza in the front yard of the home owned by his son Manuel, 35.
Oropeza was picking flowers with his 5-year-old granddaughter, Daisy. He pushed Daisy out of the way before the vehicle struck, dragging him through the garage before smashing through a bedroom wall. He was found under the truck in the bedroom, Valdez said.
Sheriff's investigators arrested two Vista High School students, ages 16 and 17, on suspicion of drag racing and vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.
Oropeza was pronounced dead at Tri-City Medical Center shortly after the 4 p.m. crash at Angeles Vista and Manor drives, said fire Capt. Rick Minnick.
Daisy Oropeza was struck by the bumper of the truck and suffered only some bruises.
"It was stupidity," said Valdez. "Nobody instilled in them (the teen-age drivers) the responsibility of a deadly weapon."
Sheriff's Sgt. Midge Masis said the two Oceanside youths were taken to Juvenile Hall.
The teens were allegedly racing a 1988 Toyota pickup and a 2001 Ford Ranger northbound on Manor Drive. As they approached the intersection, the Ford's driver who was behind the other truck suddenly pulled into the southbound lane just as the Toyota turned left, ignoring a four-way stop. The Toyota crashed into the Ford, sending both trucks out of control, Masis said.
Masis said deputies were trying to determine how quickly the vehicles were going at the time of the crash. Oropeza's niece, Rosa Avila, 42, said investigators told the family that the teen-agers had to be driving a minimum of 70 mph to cause the damage to the house.
Avila said she was upset because the driver of the Ford, which struck her uncle, did not check on him or the child. The driver instead went to check on the condition of the other teen-ager.
Since the crash, Valdez said they have not heard from the family of the teen-agers.
The crash happened shortly after school and the speeding vehicles apparently narrowly missed some students who had just crossed the street, Avila said. Valdez said speeding and racing seem to be a problem in the neighborhood.
Neighbor Bonnie Hunter, who lives on Manor Drive, said she agrees it is a problem. She said as she pulled into her driveway she saw the teens revving their engines at the other end of the street.
"We have so many children on our street ... it is very scary," Hunter said.
Minutes later her son came in and told her there had been a crash.
"I hope something is done," she said. >>
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