Arcadia : Guilty Plea in Fatal Crash

A motorist pleaded guilty last week to felony vehicular manslaughter and two counts of felony drunk driving in connection with a crash that killed a 21-year-old La Verne woman Dec. 12.

Gary Southworth of Mt. Baldy entered the plea in Pomona Superior Court on Friday. Authorities say his truck ran a red light and broadsided Kelly Salamone’s Honda Accord in La Verne, killing her.

Authorities say Southworth’s blood alcohol level was 0.14. The legal limit is 0.8.

Southworth, a fifth-grade teacher at Highland Oaks Elementary School in Arcadia and president of the Arcadia Teachers Assn., faces up to four years in state prison when he is sentenced April 2.

His attorney, Leonard Levine, said Southworth has never been in trouble before and deserves probation.

“Look at his previous good record. He is the person you least expect to be involved with an incident like this,” Levine said.

“He made a horrible mistake one night, especially for the victim’s family. It’s a mistake he will punish himself for the rest of his life.”

Frank Salamone, father of Kelly Salamone, made an emotional plea to Judge Alfonso Bazan on Friday to give Southworth the maximum penalty.

Arcadia Supt. Terrence Towner said Southworth will not automatically lose his teaching credentials upon conviction because the crime was unintentional and did not involve drugs or sex. However, he said the state Commission on Teacher Credentials will review the case and may revoke his credentials.

“Our board has taken the position he should continue to teach,” Towner said. “That’s not to say we don’t sympathize with the victim’s family.”

Southworth, who learned just before the accident that his 16-year-old son had a recurrence of cancer, is working on a lecture program in which he will warn students about the dangers of drunk driving, Levine said.