A motorist accused of driving drunk and causing a collision that killed a 24-year-old motorcyclist in the South Bay must stand trial on charges of DUI causing injury and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Toribio Martinez Sanchez, 30, is accused in the death last Nov. 28 of Alexis Corona.
San Diego police said Sanchez was headed west on Coronado Avenue in Egger Highlands in a Dodge Durango SUV shortly after 7 p.m. when he made a left- hand turn at Thermal Avenue, crossing directly in the path of the oncoming motorcyclist.
The resulting collision sent Corona tumbling onto the roadway, where he was struck by a northbound Nissan Altima, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
An expert testified that the defendant’s blood-alcohol content was .091 percent at the time of the crash, according to Deputy District Attorney Laura Evans.
Following a two-day preliminary hearing, Judge Garry Haehnle found that enough evidence was produced for Sanchez to proceed to trial.
The judge set a readiness conference for Aug. 30 and trial for Sept. 12.
Sanchez faces 10 years in state prison if convicted.
— City News Service