San Diego
The driver of a speeding motorcycle pursued by a California Highway Patrol car, which later crashed into a bystander’s car, killing a woman, pleaded no contest Monday to vehicular manslaughter.
Omar Ulysses Martinez, 26, of Rancho Bernardo, faces a year in County Jail and a $10,000 fine at his July 13 sentencing in an agreement with the district attorney’s office.
Martinez was riding a motorcycle on Jan. 19, 1988, when a CHP car began to pursue him because of speeding. As Martinez attempted to escape, the officer’s car struck a car driven by Donna Lovett, 23, of Poway, killing her.
The crash took place on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, between Kearny Mesa Road and Mercury Street, at 7:05 p.m., according to court records.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Jesus Rodriguez set sentencing for July 13.
He dismissed other charges, including evading a police officer and being unlicensed to drive a motorcycle.
A wrongful-death suit against Martinez; Robert Cobb, the CHP officer who was driving the police car, and the state of California is pending. The suit was filed by Lovett’s parents, Joel and Sylvia Lovett, in Superior Court.
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