LA MESA – A Spring Valley man was killed early yesterday when his two-axle flatbed crashed into a guardrail and bridge abutment at 70th Street on eastbound Interstate 8, authorities said.
The Medical Examiner's Office identified the driver as Robin S. Jimenez, 19.
The crash was reported about 2 a.m. and closed the eastbound lanes of I-8 for several hours.
Crews were called to clean up debris and fuel that spilled onto the freeway. The lanes were reopened around 5 a.m.
– Karen Kucher
Parks expected
to get face-lifts
LA MESA –
Volunteers will be out in force Saturday to spruce up the city's 14 parks.
Nearly 400 people have signed up for La Mesa Appreciation Day, an annual event where seniors, teens and others come together to pick up trash, paint picnic tables, pull weeds and do other jobs at the parks.
Work takes place from 8 a.m. to noon. Many of those who have registered are working with nonprofits, clubs and civic groups, but individuals are also encouraged to show at their neighborhood park.
People of all ages are welcome, but parents must accompany those younger than 18. Volunteers should bring their own gloves, rakes and/or trowels. Participants will receive free T-shirts.
Also Saturday, youths will be working in teams to do yard work for seven seniors chosen after submitting applications to the city.
Call the La Mesa Community Services Department at (619) 667-1300 for more information.
– Liz Neely
Repairs may delay
trolley service
San Diego Trolley track repair downtown may delay service between tonight and Sunday morning, transit officials said.
Work along Park Boulevard will reduce the trolley to single-track operations between City College and the 12th and Imperial Transit Station, with delays of up to 10 minutes in either direction.
The work begins tonight at 9:45 and is expected to be finished by 7 a.m. Sunday. Repairs will replace the westbound track and adjust the overhead catenary wire.
– Jeff Ristine
Man enters plea
in dual-rape case
A man who prosecutors said robbed and sexually assaulted college students in a south Mission Beach apartment last month before fleeing to Arizonapleaded not guilty yesterday to felony charges.
Antonio Washington, 18, faces 19 charges, including forcible rape, robbery and kidnapping. He surrendered Oct. 20 in Glendale, Ariz., where his father lives, and was extradited to San Diego.
If convicted, he could be sent to prison for 300 years to life. He is being held in jail in lieu of $1 million bail.
Prosecutors say Washington was among a group of men who entered an unlocked apartment on San Fernando Place on Oct. 15, held two couples at gunpoint, then raped the two women.
The victims – University of San Diego students – called police about 3:15 a.m.
Washington is one of three adults who has been arraigned in connection with the attacks. Two 17-year-old boys were arrested and are being held in Juvenile Hall.
– Dana Littlefield
Students are asked
about bat contacts
County health officials want to know if any of the 450 students who slept in the West Wind girl's cabin at Cuyamaca Outdoor School since Sept. 11 had contact with a bat.
At least one bat was seen in the cabin by three girls. Although there is no indication the bat had rabies and no report that any student had contact with a bat, officials just want to make sure.
Thirteen schools have sent sixth-graders to the outdoor school in the past seven weeks, and letters have been sent to all students who slept in the cabin. A recent inspection by the County Department of Environmental Health found no bats in the cabins, said Wilma Wooten, deputy public health officer.
If someone was bitten or had direct contact with an infected bat's saliva, there is a chance rabies could be contracted, Wooten said. If rabies is not treated quickly, it is almost always fatal.
– J. Harry Jones
Fair scheduled for
military retirees
Navy Region Southwest will hold its annual resources fair for military retirees tomorrow at the San Diego Marine Corps Recruit Depot.
The event will feature information booths and presentations made by the Navy, the Military Officers Association of America, the Defense Finance and Accounting Services, TRIWEST/TRICARE and other organizations.
The fair will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the depot's theater. For more information, call (619) 556-8987 or (619) 524-5301.
– Steve Liewer
Forum will honor
Indian veterans
The San Diego American Indian Warriors Association will host a symposium today at San Diego Mesa College.
The event, meant as an early recognition of Veterans Day, will honor veterans of American Indian heritage through speeches, songs and a color guard ceremony. It also will have talks about veterans' benefits and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The symposium will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Room H117-118, next to the college's cafeteria.
– Steve Liewer
