An 18-year-old man accused of causing fatal injuries to a San Diego-based sailor after stealing the victim’s car in Coronado was charged Friday with murder.
Ricardo Vazquez-Gongora is accused of stealing 32-year-old Eddie Foster’s car on June 11, then crashing it as Foster clung to the car’s hood in an attempt to get the driver to stop.
Foster, a father of four, was moonlighting as an Amazon driver and delivering packages when his car was taken, according to his family. The Bakersfield native was stationed at Naval Air Station North Island.
Foster was taken off life support last week.
Vazquez-Gongora, who turned 18 less than a month prior to the crash, is also charged with carjacking, hit-and-run and DUI.
According to Deputy District Attorney Makenzie Harvey, Vazquez-Gongora decided to steal a car after he and a teenage girl “found themselves stranded in Coronado.”
Harvey said the defendant came upon Foster’s car, which was running and unlocked while he was delivering a package.
After the teens got into his car, Foster jumped on the hood and was on the car for at least two miles as Vazquez-Gongora allegedly swerved the car back and forth in attempt to toss Foster from the hood, the prosecutor said.
Harvey said the victim called 911 while atop the car. He told a dispatcher to track him and that “he was going to be killed,” Harvey said.
After the crash, Vazquez-Gongora allegedly ran from the scene. He remains in custody without bail.
— City News Service
