Pacific Beach Alcohol Related Deaths and Serious Injuries – Who’s Next?

In Memory Of Those Murdered or Critically Injured by Drunk Drivers in Pacific Beach

This website was created to honor the memory of the many people who have been killed or critically injured by drunks, especially drunk drivers, who were drinking in Pacific Beach the day of their crime. Enough is enough.

As a community we can not sit by and watch another victim be seriously injured or killed without the complete belief that we tried everything in our power to mitigate the myriad of alcohol-related issues our community faces.

The following is a memorial of the people who have been fatally or critically injured in alcohol-related accidents or, by hit-and-run drivers in prime-time hours (11 pm – 5 am) in or near the business district. Their loved ones should know that their sacrifice will not go in vain in Pacific Beach. We have heard you.

2010

January 29, 2010 – - Pedestrian - broken leg and two others injured by hit and run drunk driver in SUV at The Silver Fox who hit a vehicle, put the car in reverse and ran into three people. Driver apprehended in Clairemont that evening. Story

Who’s Next? Hopefully not someone you love.

2009

February 5, 2009 – 7:20 pm  – Miss Emily Dowdy, 24 – murdered by a 7-time drunk driver while crossing Mission Blvd.. Story

June 28, 2009 – 12:00 am – Man, 30′s - face slashed with beer bottle, another man, 28 also cut in fight inside Bar West. Story

November 14, 2009 – 2:00 am - Man, 23 – stabbed while wrestling with fellow Marine to prevent him from drunk-driving back to base – after drinking in bar. Was stabbed by passer-by, still not found, ostensibly to help during the wrestling. Story

2008

February 27, 2008 – 10:00 pm – Man, 24 – serious facial injuries while drunk-driving and failing to negotiate curve at Crown Point Dr. and Lamont St. then hitting tree. Story

April 1, 2008  -  2:00 am – Mr. Salvatore Defranco massive head trauma after he and friend were hit by hit-and-run driver while crossing Garnet Ave. Story

April 8, 2008  – 2:30 am – Mr. Nikko Mava, 19 - murdered leaving birthday party-bonfire and being ejected from pickup bed, after friend drove truck into tree. Story

May 3, 2008 – 2:00 am – Two Men – gunshot victims, both arrived at different hospitals with gunshot wounds after fighting and struggling with hand gun at Diamond St. house party. One was resident and the other a visitor. Story

December 5, 2008 – 12:45 am – Man, 25 – beaten, punched and kicked by 5 men when exiting bar after football game. Attackers, supporting opposing team (Raiders), waited for home team fan to exit. Witnessing officer arrested 3 men. Story

2007

February 22, 2007 – 1:43 am – Man - head trauma while intoxicated, walked into moving vehicle at Ingraham Ave. at Grand Ave. Story

March 9, 2007 – - Clifford Riek, stabbed in the face, neck, back and leg and hospitalized after fight outside Bub’s Dive Bar with parolee who was later sentenced to 20 years in prison. Story

May 27, 2007 – 2:00 am – Nathaniel “Nat” Ward, 25 – killed by single punch from motorist, who also attacked victim’s friends, after dispute while victim and friends were in taxicab returning home and assailant in own vehicle. Assailant claimed victims insulted him and girlfriend. Assailant later found not-guilty (deadlocked jury) as cab driver was never to be found as objective witness. Story

June 29, 2007 – 6:15 pm – Timothy Easton, 22 – died after drinking heavily at St. Patrick’s Day house party, attacked and fell from vehicle driven by innocent young couple moving to PB, as scared driver escaped attack by victim and two friends in self-defense. The couple decided to not move to PB. Story The friends later charged with assault. Story

June 30, 2007 – 6:45 pm – Woman, 21 and passenger – broken pelvis, passenger: other injuries after being hit by 19 year-old drunk driver who ran stop sign at Gresham St. at Loring St.  Story

August 10, 2007 – 9:40 pm – Leslie Nunez, 28 – head trauma, broken bones in her knee, wrist and arm, and girlfriend crossing street run over by hit-and-run female driver and female passenger who stopped, then drove off. Victim still seeking assailants and ups reward after accumulating $230,000 in medical bills. Story

September 17, 2007 – 2:00 am – Man in 20′s - shot twice in leg with a third shot missing him,  by a gunman who thought victim pushed him as the victim was trying to help break-up a fight between others -  Story

October 4, 2007 – 2:40 am – Woman, 20′s – head trauma while intoxicated and exiting cab on Riviera Dr., closed the car door, turned and walked into oncoming traffic – then hit and dragged down Riviera Dr. for a short distance by sober motorcyclist. Story

October 14, 2007 – 1:40 am – Man, severe head trauma after dragged from car and beaten by pedestrian for honking horn Story

December 5, 2007 – early am – Man, leg injuries after being run over by another man his friend argued with inside a bar Story

December 10, 2007 – 2:00 am – Woman, 20′s – assaulted, beaten and raped after leaving The Tavern with man offering to escort her home. He walked to Diamond St. punched her repeatedly and raped her. She had arrived with a designated driver but they got too drunk to drive. Rapist sentenced to 6 years in prison. Story

2006

January 8, 2006 – 2:00 am – Jonathan Lefler-Panela, 25 – murdered after being stabbed at least 14 times by man after altercation in alcohol establishment. Both were ejected from establishment without any escort. Bar later settles on half-million dollar lawsuit and is soon sold.  Story

March 25, 2006 – 12:45 am – Zeki Mohammed Tovi – murdered while driving cab, this father of 4 boys ages 4-17, hit by drunk driver who ran residential stop sign at 50 mph. This drunk-driver’s plea-bargain removed DUI, 2nd degree murder and filing false police report charges even with friend’s testimony of heavy drinking at Moondoggies. Gets 9.5 years in prison – Story

June 24, 2006 – 11-12:00 am – Christopher McCallister, 25 – murdered while drunk pedestrian at .13% BAC* by hit-and-run driver while crossing Garnet and Haines St.. 18-year old, leaving house party and driving while nearly three times limit with a BAC of .23% caught leaving PB – Story

November 4, 2006 – - Ronald Williams, 39 – paralyzed jumping off Crystal Pier after getting drunk with friend with bottle of whiskey. Rescued by surfers and lifeguards via jet ski. Primary rescuer-surfer’s board was stolen in incident.  Story

November 12, 2006 – 2:01 am – Man, 25 - stabbed in leg during fight with two other men in 1500 block Diamond St.  – Story

2005

2004

December 26, 2006 – 1:45 pm – Woman, 86 – head and leg injuries requiring hospitalization after being hit by speeding driver suspected of being DUI-under the influence of drugs. Story

2003

2002

October 12, 2002 – 5:45 pm - Man, 23 – hospitalized after being extricated from GMC Yukon-SUV after 24-year old drunk driver in a Honda Civic ran stop sign at Gresham St. at Oliver St. and broadsided him. Driver facing felony charges.  Story

2001

2000

1999

1998

October 31, 1998 – early am – John Stasny, 37 – murdered, with BAC of .26% while crossing Mission Blvd. at Grand Ave. by hit-and-run 2-time convicted drunk driver with BAC of .08% – who days earlier was cited for reckless driving at .07 BAC, given 1-year sentence. Story

August 13, 1998 – 1:45 am – Daniel Toneck, 29 - lost leg after being struck while investigating prior auto accident as San Diego Police Officer, by drunk-driving woman who drank at beach all day and bars at night. She receives 1 year in jail. Officer Toneck returned to the force in 1999 for six years and had to retire in 2005 because of the strenuous physical difficulties as a result of the injury. Story

Our Terminology

*Please note that the level of blood alcohol content for victims is mentioned only to describe the alcohol-related injuries and deaths in Pacific Beach as a result of our alcohol-fueled environment – not because the victim was necessarily somehow at fault. Every situation is different and should be weighed independently.

Why we do we not use the term ‘accident’ when describing deaths caused by drunk driving murderers? Anyone receiving a driver’s license is fully aware of California or their home state laws regarding driving while intoxicated. Therefore, there is no excuse to call murdering someone an accident – regardless of what a lawyer has plea-bargained for the killer.

If you have a loved one that was killed or critically injured in Pacific Beach or, by people leaving Pacific Beach and driving throughout San Diego please click here to update us so we can memorialize this tragedy.

Other Serious Accidents in Business District

April 11, 2008 – 12:00 am – Man, 20′s - stabbed by roommate during argument with samurai sword at home near Cass St. at Law St.. Assailant arrested. Story

August 11, 2007 – 9:40 pm – Two women, 20′s- critically injured by female hit-and-run driver and female passenger (suspected drunk drivers) crossing Grand Ave. on way to Garnet Ave. (still wanted). Story

February 4, 2006 – 12:04 am – Bicyclist, 26 - broken leg after struck by hit-and-run driver at Garnet Ave. and Noyes Ave. Driver of blue pickup, circled block and left, still wanted. Story