EL CAJON - A motorist accused of crossing into oncoming traffic while speeding on state Route 67 in Ramona and causing a crash that killed a 25-year-old Chula Vista woman was ordered Wednesday to stand trial for gross vehicular manslaughter.
During a two-hour preliminary hearing, California Highway Patrol officers testified that Melvin Pearles, 48, variously told them he was speeding before the March 29 collision near Archie Moore Road because he blacked out, had to use a restroom or was trying to get away from a threatening white BMW.
Officer Eric Theal said he found Pearles seated in his heavily damaged Jaguar after the crash, and the defendant asked what happened.
"He related to me he blacked out prior to the collision and asked if anyone was hurt," Theal said.
The officer said he talked to the defendant again at a hospital.
"He related he was speeding because he had to pee," Theal said.
Witnesses, including victim Alexandria Drake's mother, said the Jaguar came quickly around a bend on the highway and tried to use a shoulder to pass a white car. The vehicle came back into the traffic lane, spun out and went into oncoming vehicles, they said.
Officer Michael Edwards testified that Pearles told him he had to go to the bathroom, but later said a white BMW came up on him quickly and he feared he would be hit.
"He said, `I was speeding. I know I was speeding,"' Edwards testified.
Another witness testified that he was passed by Pearles' Jaguar and the BMW at speeds he estimated to be around 80 mph.
No evidence was presented about whatever happened to the BMW.
Drake's mother, Pamela McKiernan, said she and her daughter, who had her 4-month-old son in her car, were driving to the Fashion Valley Mall that Sunday in separate cars.
She said she saw the Jaguar going at 80-90 mph when it lost control and hit her. She came to a stop, realized she was okay and got out.
"I ran to my daughter's (Volvo) and it was all mangled," McKiernan said. "She was in her car and trapped."
The young woman was unable to speak, and the infant made no sound, she said tearfully.
"I thought they were both dead," she said.
Timothy Saunders, who was passed by the Jaguar and BMW, said the Volvo had rolled onto the driver's side and Drake was unconscious. He said he borrowed a pocket knife to cut the infant, Jaden, out of his car seat.
Officer Scott Parent, an accident investigator with the CHP, estimated Pearles was driving between 83 and 97 mph when he crashed, based on the physical evidence.
Edwards said the defendant drives Highway 67 regularly and knows the road.
"He told me -- I'm paraphrasing here -- but he has a Jag and he doesn't drive it slow, he drives it fast," Edwards said. "He told me he doesn't like to drive 55."
Defense attorney Dawn Beebee said because everyone speeds, Pearles' actions don't rise to the level of the charge against him. Her client has no prior record, she said.
Judge Patricia Cookson not only ordered Pearles to stand trial, but revoked the defendant's status of being free on his own recognizance, taking him into custody in lieu of $75,000 bail.
The judge said Pearles was a danger to the community who might have been engaged in a street race.
A bail review hearing was set for Nov. 4 at the El Cajon Courthouse.
Pearles faces six years in state prison if convicted.
