Christmas Tree Chase Proves Fatal

A 37-year-old man who was the victim of a hit-and-run accident after allegedly stealing a Christmas tree from a grocery store parking lot died Saturday night while in surgery, the San Diego County medical examiner’s office said.

Manuel DeJesus Becerra, who lived with his mother in Chollas Creek, suffered severe head injuries after being struck by a black pickup truck at 5:38 p.m. Saturday while running across Euclid Avenue just south of Federal Boulevard, police said.

Becerra had just been chased by two employees of the Big Bear Super Market, after allegedly stealing a Christmas tree from the lot, when he was hit, police said.

“He was cussing us out (for taking the tree back), and I was telling the other guy who was with me not to pay any attention to him because he is always doing that,” said Kenneth Johnson, 27, one of the store clerks who chased Becerra. He said Becerra was often seen loitering in the area.

After Johnson got the tree back, he and his co-worker walked back across Euclid Avenue toward the store and were about 60 feet away when the truck struck Becerra, Johnson said.

“He was looking back at us, cussing us out, and the driver didn’t see him, and he didn’t see the truck,” Johnson said.

Becerra was taken to Mercy Hospital with head injuries, a broken pelvis and internal bleeding. He died at 9:49 p.m., police said.