Chandler Couple Killed in Crash in San Diego

San Diego, California—People celebrating the annual La Raza motorcycle rally at Chicano Park in San Diego’s Barrio Logan neighborhood were terrified when a pickup truck sailed off an elevated freeway and landed on top of a vendor’s booth, killing four people and injuring eight or nine others.  

It was around 3:45 p.m. Saturday afternoon at the crowded festival when Richard Anthony Sepolio, age 24, lost control of his GMC pickup truck as he merged from northbound Interstate 5 onto the Coronado Bridge.  The truck plunged about 60 feet before crashing on top of a vendor’s booth.  The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the deceased as Cruz Elias and AnnaMarie Contreras, ages 52 and 50 of Chandler, Arizona, and Andre Christopher Banks, age 49, and Francine Denise Jimenez, age 46, both of Hacienda Heights, California.  

Sepolio was arrested for felony driving under the influence and faces four counts of vehicular homicide.  He is a petty officer in the United States Navy stationed at the U.S. Naval Air Station, North Island.

We extend our condolences to the Contreras, Banks and Jimenez families and friends over this tragic loss, and we wish those who were injured speedy and complete recoveries.