A motorist who crashed his car on an on-ramp from Ingraham Street to Interstate 8 while allegedly driving under the influence pleaded not guilty March 11 to vehicular manslaughter in the death of a transient who happened to be sleeping under some bushes where the crash occurred.
Alexander Aziz Fatoohi, 23, of El Cajon, also pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol in the Nov. 3 incident that reportedly killed Donald Wall, 60.
Wall’s body was discovered only after Fatoohi’s vehicle was removed from the scene of the crash at the Interstate 8 onramp from Ingraham Street after daybreak.
His attorney, Russell Robinson, said his client is not a drinker and only drank that night as part of a celebration with his employers and co-workers after Fatoohi received a job promotion.
Fatoohi works as a sous chef in Mission Beach, and his employer and others wrote favorable letters to the judge about his character. They also said the incident was out of character for him and he was a responsible person.
Robinson told the judge in court papers that the Interstate 8 east ramp is difficult to maneuver.
Robinson said the area consists of “a hard right turn onto the freeway that causes numerous problems due to it being engineered too tightly for the speeds people normally travel.”
Robinson described the incident as “an absolute tragedy.”
Fatoohi appeared before San Diego Superior Court Judge David Szumowski on a notify letter sent to him by the District Attorney’s office that told him about the charges that were filed on Feb. 20.
Fatoohi was arrested after the incident, but his father posted bond for him and he was released from jail.
The case was investigated for months, and since no charges were filed, the bond was exonerated back to the bail bond company. This meant the family paid $15,000 up front for the bond premium, and they cannot get it back from the bond company, according to court records.
Robinson filed a brief asking Szumowski to let Fatoohi remain free on his own recognizance without requiring another sizable bond fee, which he said would be a hardship. Robinson said his client is not a flight risk, and has remained sober since the incident. In fact, Fatoohi has been attending two meetings per week of Alcoholics Anonymous since his release from jail, and proof was supplied of his presence there.
Szumowski agreed to let Fatoohi remain free on his own recognizance on the condition he continue attending AA meetings twice a week. He lives with his mother and brother.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 20. The prosecutor couldn’t be reached for comment.