Deception May Have Cost Crash Victim, 15, His Life

Deception by a 17-year-old driver of a stolen car may have been responsible for the death of his 15-year-old passenger, the California Highway Patrol said Wednesday.

The car overturned when it plunged off embankment along Valley Center Road, between Escondido and Valley Center Tuesday shortly after midnight.

At the time a San Diego Sheriff’s deputy was following but not chasing the car, which was traveling at an estimated 85 m.p.h., authorities said.

When the deputy reached the accident scene he found the driver on the ground about 20 feet from the wreckage. The deputy asked the youth if he was the driver and if he was alone. The youth replied he was alone.

The youth, whose name was not released because of his age, was taken to Palomar Hospital in Escondido, where he was again questioned, this time by CHP investigators. Again the youth said he had been alone in the car.

It wasn’t until 21 hours later that authorities knew for certain that Rudolfo Luis Chavez had been in the car. By then it was too late.

The CHP launched a search for Chavez at 9 p.m. Tuesday after receiving a call from a concerned relative who said the 15 year-old was with the driver of the stolen car and might still be at the accident scene.

“A patrol car was . . . sent to the scene within 15 minutes, and we also called the CDF (California Division of Forestry) to help search,” CHP officer Jerry Bohrer said. “They found Chavez (dead) about 60 feet from the accident in a ravine in high, heavy brush. There was no way we could have found him without a heavy search.”

Bohrer speculated that the driver thought Chavez had escaped and believed he was doing him a favor by not telling authorities he was in the car.

“It’s possible he thought he (Chavez) ran off without a problem” and was unaware he was in the brush 60 feet away, Bohrer said.

Charles Kelley, an investigator for the San Diego County medical examiner, said Chavez died from chest and head injuries.

CHP officers later arrested the driver on suspicion of auto theft and drunken driving, Bohrer said. The CHP will recommend that he also be charged with vehicular manslaughter, Bohrer added.

The driver, who suffered multiple injuries in the crash, was in fair condition at the hospital Wednesday.

Chavez had attended Orange Glen High in Escondido and was later sent to Valley continuation. However, he refused to attend school and dropped out earlier this year, despite being urged by administrators to continue his schooling, Principal Robert Clay said.

“He didn’t attend very much, but we worked hard to get him to come to school,” Clay said. “He said he really didn’t want to attend anymore, so he quit.”

Clay said the students at the school--with an enrollment of 258--were shocked at the news.

A vice principal of a neighboring school said some youths want to protect their friends regardless of the situation.

“A friend could be dying of drugs or in serious trouble, but even if it would help their friends, the students want to live by this code,” said Al Brandenburg, vice principal of Escondido High School. “ ‘Don’t narc on anybody’ is what you hear from students.

“I hope there is a lesson learned here from this poor Chavez kid.”