Authorities Thursday identified two men killed in motorcycle crashes — one who ran a red light and one who was struck by a suspected drunk driver who ran a red light — about two hours apart and just a few miles away from each other in San Diego.
Alaa Putrus, 28, of El Cajon died Monday afternoon when he sped through a red light and slammed into the side of a pregnant woman’s car in the Grantville neighborhood, according to the San Diego Police Department and San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office. The cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries.
Daniel Alejandro Oviedo-Ruiz, 31, of San Diego was killed about two hours later in Linda Vista when he was struck by a suspected drunk driver turning in front of him against a red light, police and medical examiner’s officials said. Both Putrus and Oviedo-Ruiz, who died of blunt force head and torso trauma, were pronounced dead at the respective scenes.
The crash that killed Putrus was reported about 4:40 p.m. at the intersection of Rancho Mission and San Diego Mission roads, SDPD Officer Robert Heims said Monday. Putrus was speeding on a 2017 Suzuki motorcycle when he ran a red light and T-boned a 2009 Hyundai Elantra in the middle of the intersection, throwing him from his ride.
The driver of the Elantra, a 30-year-old pregnant woman, complained of pain and was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Just after 6:45 p.m. that same day, Oviedo-Ruiz was riding his Honda motorcycle through the intersection at Genesse Avenue and Linda Vista Road when a Nissan Altima ran a red light and turned left in front of him, Heims said. Oviedo-Ruiz had no time to react and was struck by the Altima and thrown from his ride, ultimately becoming pinned under the sedan that hit him.
The driver of the Altima, 26-year-old Anthony Garibaldo, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
—City News Service
