DUI suspect severs his leg, tries to elude cops

PALA MESA VILLAGE — A DUI suspect who allegedly led officers on a high-speed chase, resulting in a fatal traffic crash and another collision, tried to run away despite losing part of a leg in one of the crashes, authorities said Monday.

The suspect — identified as Silvero Romero, 23, was captured about 50 feet from his overturned vehicle, California Highway Patrol Officer Eric Newbury said.

The chase began after Romero, driving a 2001 Ford Explorer, was pulled over on southbound Interstate 15, north of Rainbow Valley Boulevard, about 7 p.m. Sunday for allegedly speeding, said Newbury. Romero then sped off, driving south on I-15 at more than 100 mph and using all lanes, including the right shoulder, according to Newbury.

The suspect drove onto state Route 76 and headed west, and he ran the red light at the Old Highway 395 intersection at a high rate of speed, Newbury said. A short time later, the suspect’s vehicle crossed the double-yellow lines into an eastbound lane where it collided head-on with a 1999 Toyota pickup truck driven by a 27-year-old Moreno resident, who later died at a hospital, according to Newbury.

The suspect continued driving the wrong way and the vehicle collided head-on with a 2004 Ford F-350 driven by 50-year-old James F. Riley of Barstow, the officer said. The suspect’s vehicle overturned and went down an embankment, Newbury said.

Romero’s left leg was severed just below the knee, authorities said. The suspect tried to flee the scene on one leg but collapsed about 50 feet from his overturned Explorer, the officer said.

The 27-year-old driver of the Toyota pickup was taken via Mercy Air to Palomar Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, according to Newbury.

Riley, who was driving the second vehicle the suspect hit, and his wife, Jennifer Riley, 43, suffered minor injuries, he said.

The suspect was taken to Palomar Medical Center and will be arrested on suspicion of felony manslaughter, felony DUI, felony evading and felony hit-and- run, according to the officer. State Route 76 was shut down for approximately 8 1/2 hours, Newbury said. The identity of the fatal victim is being withheld pending notification of his family.

Tags: SDNN

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