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Man Killed in Pine Valley Crash Identified

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The man killed after his car plunges off of the Pine Valley Bridge off of the Interstate 8 in Pine Valley has been identified.

According to the Medical Examiner's (ME) office, 33-year old James Keith Quigley died of multiple blunt force injuries. 

Quigley's car plunged off the bridge after 3 p.m. Thursday and fell around 50 feet at the bottom of a ravine below. 

Details on what may have caused the crash were not released.

The California Highway Patrol said the intitial ME report stated Quickly had died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound but later said there was no evidence of such a wound.

No other information was released.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Rare "Torbie" Cat Adopted from County Shelter

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A pet adopter went home with the happiest of feline phenomena on Friday.

Staff at the County Animal Services shelter in Carlsbad was shocked when a 3-year-old stray male “torbie” cat showed up. Why, you ask?

Torbies are mixed-breed cats, the offspring of a tabby cat and a cat with a tortoise-shell type pattern, or a tortie. What really makes it interesting, though, is that the torbie pattern is sex-linked and nearly all torbie cats are born female, according to County Animal Services director Dawn Danielson.

Kim Tardy, an animal attendant at the shelter, couldn’t believe it either.

“I’ve been in the field for 10 years and I have never seen a male torbie,” Tardy said. “I have a co-worker that’s only seen one in 15 years in the field.”

According to the County News Center, published reports claim that as low as 1 out of every 10,000 cats are male torbies. The rarity of the breed-gender combination is helped by the fact that most male torbies are born sterile.

Although this diamond in the fluff has found a new home, you may stumble upon another friendly feline during a visit to any three of the county’s shelters.

As part of a 90-day pilot project, all three county shelters will now be open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sundays, excluding holidays, in addition to its normal Tuesday through Saturday schedule.

For more information about County Animal Services, visit its website.



Photo Credit: San Diego County News Center

Voters Confused Over Dueling Death Penalty Propositions

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The Election is just a few days away and two major propositions on the ballot are confusing some voters—Proposition 62 and 66.

Both could mean a historic change for the death penalty in California. While voting yes on Prop. 62 could put an end the death penalty, a yes on Prop. 66 will speed up executions.

“62 is very clear—it gets rid of the death penalty in California and just like other states who have gotten rid of it, everyone gets re-sentenced to life without parole and we move on,” said Justin Brooks, Director of the Innocence Project.

District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis says Prop 66 will fix the death penalty system that many feel is broken. It calls for hiring more attorneys to handle inmates’ appeals in a process to speed up executions.

“It means mending it, not ending it,” Dumanis said. “It takes the problems that currently exist with the death penalty and works to fix each and every one of those.”

But opponents like Brooks claim there is no way to fix the death penalty.

“It’s been a 40-year failed experiment in California and this is another bad process in a failed experiment,” Brooks told NBC 7.

According to Brooks, if Proposition 66 is passed, it won’t speed up the process, claiming it will be difficult to mandate attorneys to takes on cases. He added that the state will not save money but rather costs will be shifted to the local level and lead to the execution of innocent people.

“It takes a lot to get the death penalty,” Dumanis said. “It requires a jury, unanimously to decide death and then the judge reaffirms that. So we have a lot of checks and balances in the system.”

Prop. 66 will require two inmates to be placed per cell, as opposed to just one—saving the state money and money, due to a faster appellate process, Dumanis said.

“We believe that this can be fixed and it should be fixed,” she told NBC 7. “And the worst of the worst should face the death penalty.”

Both propositions are running close in the polls. If both receive a majority, the one with the highest number of voters could be implemented in the state.



Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area

One Person Killed in Warner Springs Crash

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At least one person was killed in a single vehicle rollover crash in Warner Springs Friday night, the Cal Fire Department confirmed.

The crash happened at approximately 8:04 p.m. on the northbound State Route 79 just north of Camino San Ignacio, about 65 miles northeast of San Diego.

Cal Fire officials said multiple patients were extricated from the vehicle. Three more people will be airlifted to the hospital.

No other information was immediately available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news story. 



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Don't Forget to Vote: Data Shows Voting Reminders Work

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American University sophomore Bex Warner wanted to vote but almost missed the chance. The 19-year-old college student in Washington, D.C., was registered back home in Illinois but nearly forgot to request an absentee ballot in time.

The voting reminder tool VotePlz and Facebook posts from friends prevented the student from standing out this crucial election.

"I probably wouldn't have voted if I hadn't seen reminders," Warner said.

More organizations, companies and candidates than ever seem to be sending voting reminder text messages, and data suggests they increase voter turnout.

Text message voting reminders increased turnout by 3 percent, D.C. political consultant Dr. Aaron Strauss found in a nationwide study of 2006 election results. He specializes in experiments that measure the impact of voter outreach techniques. 

"The idea is that this can take the probability of voting from 50 percent to 53 percent," Strauss said.

With Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump locked in a tight race, a 3 percent boost in voter turnout would be huge. In the 2012 national election, under 54 percent of the voting-age population cast a ballot, according to the Pew Research Center.

Research conducted on a California election in 2009 also suggested that voter turnout increased by 3 percent after residents received a text message the day before the election reminding them to vote.

Facebook reminders to register to vote also had an impact, data suggests. The Center for Election Innovation & Research found that online voter registration activity increased by as much as sixteen-fold as Facebook reminded users that deadlines were approaching.

People who receive repeated reminders to vote and think through when they will do so boost their chances of following through, Rock the Vote civic technology director Jen Tolentino said.

"When you make a plan, you're a lot more likely to vote," she said.

Voting reminder text messages help eliminate "process issues" that occur when people want to vote but don't know how or where, Brandon Naylor said. He's a spokesman for Democracy Works, a nonprofit that sends TurboVote reminders.

"Those are problems we can eliminate through technology," he said.

Here are four voting reminder systems you can sign up for:

Rock the Vote: The nonpartisan nonprofit sends voting reminder text messages and emails to more than 5 million users. Rock the Vote is helping users make specific plans for when and where they will vote. Users can use the Rock the Vote systems to email themselves their plans.

To signs up, visit RocktheVote.com.

TurboVote: TurboVote reminders sent by text message and email are telling users when and where they can vote, when early voting begins and ends, and more. The reminders being sent to more than 556,000 users by text message and more than 601,000 by email are designed to take the guesswork out of voting, Naylor said.

To sign up, visit TurboVote.org.

VotePlz: This service tells users when and where they can vote on Election Day, how they can vote early and what rights they have at polling locations. VotePlz also helps users think through how they will get to the polls, showing how long each mode of transportation will take.

To sign up, visit VotePlz.org.

Purple: The text message service Purple sends users voting reminders and interactive election updates. The messages are designed to "feel conversational and fun, while also remaining accurate and non-partisan," the Nieman Journalism Lab reported earlier this year.

To sign up, visit getpurple.io.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Zipcar is Offering Free Car Reservations on Election Night

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Zipcar, a popular car-sharing company, is making more than 7,000 vehicles nationwide available for free on election night.

As part of its #DRIVEtheVOTE campaign, Zipcar is offering free car reservations between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on November 8 to help voters get to the polls before they close.

Reservations can be made as early as Friday, and can be made online or with Zipcar’s mobile app.

Click here for more information on this promotion.



Photo Credit: Zipcar

Replacing Old Smoke Alarms

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This is the time of the year when we're supposed to change the batteries in our smoke alarms.

But what if the smoke alarm itself needs to be changed?

If your smoke detector is more than 10 years old, it’s time for a new one becasue the sensors inside can lose sensitivity.

Consumer Reports tests smoke detectors by creating two types of common household fires. Photoelectric alarms are best at detecting smoky, slow-building fires, and ionization alarms are best at detecting fast, flaming fires.

Consumer Reports says the best type of alarms have a dual sensor and can be interconnected. These two 30-dollar models from First Alert (Model # 3120 B) and Kidde (Model # PI 2010) are top-rated. When they’re interconnected if one alarm goes off,  every alarm in your house will go off as well. That will protect you from a distant fire and give you more time to get out of the house.

Some newer smoke alarms are made with lithium-ion batteries that last as long as the unit — ten years and those batteries are not replaceable. Consumer Reports says it’s a good idea to note in marker on the back of the alarm when you got it and when you should replace it. 



Photo Credit: Consumer Reports

Man Gets Max Sentence for Deadly SR-67 DUI Crash

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A Ramona man who pleaded guilty to driving drunk and causing a fiery, head-on crash on State Route 67 that killed a recent college graduate will spend the next several years in prison.

Roy Dunkin, 51, pleaded guilty two months ago to gross vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence in the Aug. 20 crash that claimed the life of Lucas Riley, 24.

On Friday, in a courtroom packed with Riley's loved ones, a judge handed down the maximum sentence to Dunkin in his case: 11 years and 8 months behind bars.

Deputy District Attorney Cally Bright said Dunkin will serve 5 years and 10 months of that sentence, per the way the law is set up. He has 76 days of credit from his time in jail.

Bright said the San Diego District Attorney's Office working to get DUI legislation changed, making it a top priority.

"It shocks me. Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is considered a serious felony, but not a violent felony; whereas DUI causing injury is considered both serious and violent," Bright said. "So what does that mean? That means that if you kill someone under the influence, you’ll actually spend less time in prison than if you injure them."

On Aug. 20, as Dunkin drove his large GMC truck on SR-67, he had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 1.6 to 1.8 in his system, about two times the legal limit, Bright said.

Dunkin had been celebrating at his granddaughter's first birthday earlier in the day, where he had several beers. At Friday's sentencing hearing, Bright also revealed that 170 full beers were found in Dunkin's truck.

As he drove, Dunkin ran through a stop light but kept going. He hit another car, injuring three people, and continued to drive on SR-67.

Then, Dunkin veered across the road and plowed head-on into Riley’s Mini Cooper, trapping Riley inside the vehicle. The impact from the collision set the Mini Cooper on fire.

"[Riley] literally had no chance," said Bright.

The young man died at the scene.

On Friday, Riley's family told reporters Riley was in Ramona that day checking out a part for his car that he found in an ad on Craigslist. Typically, they said Riley was never really in that part of town.

Riley was a recent graduate of San Diego’s Point Loma Nazarene University – a talented art major whose work is on display at the Cedar Street Parking Garage in Little Italy.

He was also engaged to be married. After his tragic death, his fiancée told NBC 7 Riley was a loving, caring man. She begged the public: “Please don’t drink and drive, please.”

Bright, who has handled deadly DUI cases in San Diego for the past 10 years, said this case was one of the hardest ones she's ever worked on.

Bright said there were 260 pages of victim impact statements turned in by the Riley's family and friends -- about twice the volume she typically sees for high-profile cases like this.

"The letters and statements in court by the family were so heartwrenching, and so heartfelt -- their devastation so pure," said Bright.

Riley's father, Mark Riley, said his family wants to see serious changes made to the law when it comes to deadly DUI crashes like the one that took his son's life.

"We have a cultural problem, so what has to happen, is the law has to be put in perspective with what is happening," Mark told NBC 7. "These are murders. These are not accidents. These are willful incidents. Unfortunately, they keep happening."

Mark said Dunkin "had a loaded gun" when he drove drunk that day, and by having 170 beers in his truck.

He said the Riley family, who lives in Hawaii, will work to help other families impacted by deadly DUI crashes.

"We will certainly take an opportunity to punctuate what our son's murder means and how it will hopefully help with legislation," the grief-stricken father added. "You can't replace a life, you can't replace what this means by any sort of penalty or consequence."

Riley's mother, Tami, and his older brother, Cory, were also in San Diego Friday for Dunkin's sentencing hearing.

Tami told NBC 7 Riley was the youngest of her three children, and leaves behind Cory and a sister.

"He was well-loved in our family – he was the baby," said Tami. "His life touched so many people. He was loved by so many."

"Lucas was sort of innately kind," Cory added. "I would tell him things that I did wrong, or we would get in a fight, and he was bizarrely forgiving. That is one of the biggest attributes of my brother. And his acceptance of all people."

Last month, on Oct. 15, Tami came to San Diego from Hawaii to unite with other mothers for the Walk Like MADD 5K. At that time, Tami told NBC 7 she had to come out to join the fight against drunk driving.

“It’s still very emotional,” Tami told NBC 7, fighting back tears. “We’ve all been devastated by this crash. It’s necessary to make it public knowledge. As a family, we want to help the problem [of drunk driving] down here.”

On the same day as the Walk Like MADD 5K in San Diego, DUI suspect Richard Sepolio, a 24-year-old active duty U.S. Navy sailor stationed in Coronado, drove his car off the Coronado Bridge ramp, plunging into a large crowd attending festival in Chicano Park, which sits below the bridge in Barrio Logan. The suspected DUI crash killed four people.

That night, as San Diego mourned the victims of the Chicano Park crash at a memorial, Tami was there. She told NBC 7 she had to be there to show support for the victims and their families and demand an end to the vicious cycle of deadly DUI crashes.

Dunkin did not address the court at his sentencing hearing but his daughter, Nicole Dunkin, and a family friend spoke on his behalf. Nicole said her father had been having a very difficult time in his personal life after the suicide of his son two years ago, which led him to use alcohol.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego
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Americans Heading to Tijuana for their Healthcare Needs

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There’s no question about it. Healthcare is expensive, very expensive.

Even people with insurance can often find themselves struggling to pay their monthly premiums.

While politicians debate what needs to be fixed with the U.S. Healthcare system, a new industry is gaining steam just across the border in Tijuana and even further down in Mexico. More Americans are choosing to get their medication, treatments and dental procedures in Tijuana and even further down in Mexico.

Mike Gasparro lives in Bonita, but he manages Dr. Dalia’s Dental Care Clinic in Tijuana. Most of their customers are Americans; some are from San Diego, others make the trip all the way from the East Coast.

While low prices are the biggest factor, there’s also immediacy.

“[Patients] will come to the office in the U.S. and they will refer them to another dentist who then refers them to another dentist and in our case all of our specialists are under one roof,” Gasparro said.

In some cases the price difference is nearly 70 percent less.

Tamara Shapiro lives in Los Angeles, but for the last two years, she’s been getting her teeth fixed in Tijuana. She said she drives down to San Diego, parks her car and then walks over to Tijuana for her visits. 

“It’s totally worth it,” Shapiro said. “When it comes to lower prices, it’s a no brainer. I spent $30,000 dollars for three implants in the states--- and [in Tijuana] I got 14 teeth pulled and partials for $14,000."

While cheaper care in Mexico is nothing new, the booming industry is not tapping into tourism.

Companies like Medical Departures help Americans find a clinic for their specific needs in the city or beach town they want to visit. Once patients pin point the type of vacation they’re looking for, they can find a clinic where they can kill two birds with one stone.

“We can tell them, ‘the most beautiful beaches in Mexico are in Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Playa del Carmen,” says Virginia Osuna from Medical Departures. We have patients from San Diego, from Phoenix, from Yuma, from Florida, New York, New Jersey. From all over the U.S.”

But it’s not all fun and games. There are concerns about safety in Mexico and in finding doctors who work in Mexico, but are certified in the U.S

“A patient from Texas called in and told me 'I'm not afraid of the cartels, fights or instability with the government. I'm afraid that you will send me with a bad dentist,'" said Osuna.

The number of people seeking medical treatment is expected to rise even more. The Mexican government expects it will rise to roughly 700,000 visitors by 2020.

Jewelry Store Hopes to Raise Money for Toddler Battling Cancer

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In a store filled with beautiful things including bracelets, necklaces and earrings, a picture of 2-year-old Hazel Altbaum shines the brightest.

On Saturday, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., the newly opened Kendra Scott Jewelry Store in Fashion Valley Mall will donate 20 percent of sales to the little girl’s family.

It's the store's touch of generosity to Hazel -- a stranger to them -- as she battles a rare form of cancer.

Doctors diagnosed Hazel with a rare form of cancer called Acute Myeloid Leukemia after a routine check-up revealed abnormal blood samples.

Fifteen months later, the toddler’s fight continues with intense treatment at Rady Children’s Hospital.

“We spend a lot of time figuring out who's doing the school drop-offs, who's doing the hospital visits, which are very frequent, and when there's the in-patient stays we call on family and friends to help out," said Tim Altbaum, Hazel’s dad.

Altbaum and his wife said they were shocked when managers of the jewelry store approached them with the fundraising idea.

It’s just one example of how their daughter’s fight against cancer, although awful, has also revealed unknown kindness.

“There's millions of people just willing to give anything they can to help someone or a family in need without any motivation, without any connection, just out of the kindness of their hearts because they're human beings just like us," said Altbaum.

The store’s managers say they’ll also take phone orders during Saturday’s event and apply them towards the family’s fundraiser.

DA Releases Details, Videos of 3 Officer-Involved Shootings

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San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis released details and videos of three high-profile officer and deputy-involved shooting cases Friday spanning two years.

“The law recognizes that police officers are often forced to make split-second judgments in circumstances that are tense, uncertain and rapidly evolving,” Dumanis said, before talking about her review of the cases and the videos at a news briefing.

The DA delved into her office's review on the three following cases:

• The May 11, 2016 officer-involved shooting of Thongsoune Vilaysane
• The Aug. 4, 2015 deputy-involved shooting of Daniel Avila
• The April 8, 2014 officer-involved shooting of Allan David Riley

Other than the details and clips released Friday, Dumanis said that, at this point, no further evidence will be released on these cases. Dumanis said her office only releases video that is relevant to her office's legal analysis and review of a case.

“In other words, the videos that show what happened in the moments or minutes leading up to the shooting,” she added.

Dumanis said that, under California penal code, “An officer’s use of deadly force is reasonable if the officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or to others.”

The DA said in all three of these cases, the use of lethal force by the deputies or officers was justified.

Daniel Avila:

The DA discussed each individual case, beginning with the shooting of Avila on Aug. 4, 2015.

In that case, a deputy with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) noticed Avila in distress and acting strangely while pulled over in a car on Las Pulgas Road near Interstate 5 near Camp Pendleton.

When the deputy approached Avila, he allegedly yelled and pointed aggressively at the deputy. At one point, he said he had a gun and threatened to kill the deputy and himself. The OCSD deputy called for backup and a standoff with Avila in his car ensued. 

For an hour, deputies and U.S. Border Patrol agents tried to negotiate with Avila.

Dumanis said Avila continued to make threats and told deputies he was a suspect in the murder of his parents. He claimed he had a gun pointed to his own stomach.

When Avila finally exited the car, he pointed his arm, with a dark-colored shirt wrapped around his hand, toward deputies as if he had a gun in his hand, officials said.

Dumanis said Avila yelled at the deputies, telling them "they were going to get it."

At that point, a deputy deployed bean bags at Avila’s stomach. Three OCSD deputies and two Border Patrol agents fired their guns, killing Avila. No weapon was found on him.

The DA said an investigation into Avila later revealed he suffered from mental health issues and drug dependency. A toxicology report later confirmed Avila had methamphetamine in his system at the time of his shooting, Dumanis said Friday.

Dumanis said Avila's family asked that the video of his shooting not be publicly released.

"We have been through enough pain," said Dumanis, citing a note written by Avila's parents.

After careful consideration, Dumanis said her office has decided not to publicly release the video of Avila's shooting.

Thongsoune Vilaysane:

Dumanis then addressed the May 11, 2016 officer-involved shooting of Vilaysane, of which she did release video.

In this case, Dumanis said a San Diego Police Department (SDPD) officer saw Vilaysane driving away from a home on Pagel Place in Encanto – a home known by police to be frequented by gang members.

The officer followed Vilaysane, who sped up and blew through a stop sign. He led the officer on a chase through Encanto, refusing to pull over, as additional police units followed.

At one point, Vilasayne pulled into the driveway of a home and, when an officer approached him on foot, he backed out quickly, almost hitting the officer. Dumanis said that officer jumped out of the way and recognized Vilaysane as a parolee who had recently been arrested.

Eventually, Vilaysane drove back to Pagel Place, where he hit a parked car and came to a stop. Officers then approached the halted car on foot. Dumanis said five witnesses said they heard the officers order Vilaysane to put his hands up.

At that moment, Dumanis said Vilaysane backed up and struck a patrol car, and then drove forward. He then backed up once again, this time, driving directly toward the officers. Witnesses described Vilaysane as “aiming for the officers” and patrol cars, the DA said.

Four police officers surrounding Vilaysane opened fire on him.

Dumanis showed a portion of video of the shooting captured on the police officers’ body-worn cameras. She also released a still photograph of the scene pulled from video recorded by a sheriff’s department helicopter, and a short surveillance video that captured some of the incident.

Dumanis said the car driven by Vilaysane had been stolen from Carlsbad five days prior to his encounter with police. Toxicology reports showed Vilaysane had methamphetamines and amphetamines in his system at the time of his shooting.

Allan David Riley:

Dumanis also released a short clip linked to the deputy-involved shooting of Allan David Riley on April 8, 2014.

In that case, two San Diego County Sheriff’s Department deputies were working in La Mesa, investigating a series of daytime burglaries in the community.

One deputy spotted Riley walking near Jackson and Center drives, carrying a backpack. Riley walked into the parking lot of a gas station, and the deputies followed.

When they tried to talk to with Riley, Dumanis said Riley gave the deputies a fake name and birthdate belonging to a person with an outstanding felony warrant. Riley refused to show his ID to the deputies or to turn over his backpack.

During the encounter, Dumanis said Riley put his hand into his waistband and pulled out a 9.5-inch hunting knife. The deputies tried to restrain him, but Riley lunged at the deputies, stabbing one deputy in the leg.

The other deputy fired one round, striking Riley in the stomach. Riley was taken to a hospital, where he underwent surgery and eventually recovered.

Dumanis said results of a toxicology report on Riley revealed he had opiates and amphetamines in his system at the time of his altercation with deputies. Riley was charged with the assault on the deputy, and several other counts.

This week, a jury found Riley guilty on all charges, Dumanis said. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 9.

The clip of this case released by Dumanis was surveillance video captured by the gas station. It shows the struggle between Riley and the deputies in the parking lot.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Pedestrian Hit, Killed on Trolley Tracks in Mission Hills

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A pedestrian was hit and killed on the trolley tracks in Mission Hills Friday night, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) confirmed.

The incident occurred at approximately 9:31 p.m. on Hancock and Noell streets near the Interstate 5.

SDPD says one person was killed but it's unclear if they were struck by a train or a trolley.

No other information was immediately available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news story. 

1 Killed in Fiery Bay Park Crash

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A man was killed in a two-vehicle crash Friday night in the Bay Park neighborhood of San Diego, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). 

A driver in a black Kia died in the crash, which happened at around 10:10 p.m. on northbound Interstate 5 just south of Balboa Avenue. A woman in a Mitsubishi Eclipse suffered major injures and she was extricated from her vehicle.

Witnesses reported seeing flames erupting from the wreckage, with at least one vehicle on fire. The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) shut down all northbound lanes on the I-5 immediately following the accident. Traffic was diverted to Balboa Avenue. One lane was expected to reopen around 1 a.m. Saturday.

CHP officials said the crash is under investigation, but may have been caused by one driver traveling the wrong way on the freeway. No further details have been released.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Candidates Shift Focus to Plans for Their First 100 Days

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In the final days of their Presidential campaigns, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump have been offering voters their road maps for their first 100 days as president.

Clinton spent the last week urging supporters to get out and vote to ensure that she can follow through on her promises to make college more affordable and create more jobs.

The Democratic candidate has been spending a lot of time in Florida, a swing state that is a must-win for Trump.

The GOP candidate has focused on laying out his “contract with the American voter,” and on the Clinton email server issue. Trump has said, in speeches focused on his first 100 days, that he would repeal Obamacare and sue the women who have accused him of sexual misconduct.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Fearing Election Chaos, 'Preppers' Stockpile Food

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In fear of an election night Doomsday, preppers are running up sales of emergency survival food, NBC News reported.

While sales for "long term food" typically see an increase around natural disasters and elections, "this is more intense than what we saw in 2012," said Keith Bansemer, VP of marketing for My Patriot Supply, a manufacturer and seller of survival food. During the previous election his company saw sales double. This time it's triple.

"We have everyone we can on the phones," he said. "We are overwhelmed."

Purchases at other long term food supply companies are up as well. Emergency preparedness online store TheEpicenter reports a 6 percent uptick in year over year sales.



Photo Credit: Getty Images, File

Trump, Pence to Campaign in Traditionally Blue Minnesota

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Donald Trump and Mike Pence will both be spending time in traditionally blue Minnesota during the closing days of the campaign, NBC News reported.

Minnesota, which President Obama won by eight points in 2012, has not seen much action this campaign and is considered by NBC News as leaning Democrat. A Star Tribune Minnesota Poll released last week showed Clinton with an eight-point lead.

"We're going up to Minnesota which, traditionally has not been Republican at all. And we're doing phenomenally. We just saw a poll," Trump announced during a rally in Florida on Saturday.

The campaign stop would be Trump's first public appearance in the Gopher State during the general election. He finished a distant third behind Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz during the GOP primary.



Photo Credit: AP

Memorials Planned for Ramon 'Chunky' Sanchez

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A series of memorials in San Diego this weekend will celebrate the life and legacy of beloved Chicano leader and musician Ramon "Chunky" Sanchez, his family announced.

Via Facebook, Chunky's family said the first tribute will be held Friday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at San Diego's Centro Cultural De La Raza.

On Saturday, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., a prayer service for Chunky will be held at Chicano Park in Barrio Logan, followed by a private burial, the family said. On Sunday, the tributes for Chunky continue with a 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Celebration of Life, also at Chicano Park.

Locals mourned Chunky Wednesday night, too, during a Dia de los Muertos event at Chicano Park.

Chunky died on Oct. 28 at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego. He was a longtime resident, musician and cultural leader of the Chicano community. His eldest daughter, Ixcatli Sanchez, posted the news of her father’s passing on social media Oct. 29, writing, in part: “it is with indescribable emotion that on 10/28/16 my Pops began his next journey in his phase we call life.”

The family has not gone into detail regarding Chunky's cause of death.

He is survived by his wife, Isabel Enrique Sanchez, and their children, Ixcatli, Ramon, Esmeralda, Mauricio and Tonantzin, as well as 15 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Chunky's youngest son, Fernando Julio Sanchez, 25, was killed in a crash on Highway 138 in Gorman, California in late November 2010.

"He joins his son, Fernando Julio Sanchez (1984-2010), in the spirit world," the Sanchez Family's announcement stated.

Chunky's birthday was on Oct. 30 -- just two days after his death. He would have turned 65.

After his passing, many San Diegans, including the Chicano Studies Department at San Diego Mesa College and Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, took to social media to express their admiration for Chunky and their sadness over his passing.

NBC 7 spoke with some of Sanchez’s family friends at Chicano Park that day, also grieving over the loss of the Chicano icon who was so well-known in San Diego.

“I really cried for Chunky [because] he had a big influence in my life,” Michael Arenas told NBC 7. “He was a hero to me because he taught me something, a life lesson that I will always carry: to fight for what’s right and to never give up.”

A longtime resident of San Diego, Sanchez attended San Diego State University in the early 1970s and considered himself a “barrio-ologist.” He was known by many in the Chicano community as a “hero of the barrio.”

He wrote the song “Chicano Park Samba” – about the culture, spirit and struggle of Chicanos – for Chicano Park, a colorful, mural-filled cultural landmark under the Coronado Bay Bridge that was designated a park in 1970. The song narrates the struggle for the creation of Chicano Park and has become an anthem for the Barrio Logan community.

“With Chunky’s influence, we have a park – we have this beautiful park. And not just the Raza, we invite the whole community, the whole county of San Diego to enjoy this park,” said Arenas.

After his passing, the website of the Chicano Park Steering Committee, the group that oversees Chicano Park, dedicated its homepage to Sanchez, posting a tribute along with his photograph and the phrase: "Chunky Sanchez, Presente!"

Sanchez was popular throughout San Diego for his visits to many local schools, where he spoke to classes and sang to children.

“He’s always been full of wisdom for us. If you go to any school around here they all know who Chunky is. You ask them who Chunky is and you’ll get a big reaction,” Arenas told NBC 7.

Family friend Noni Samano said Sanchez was known for his passion to give back to the community and to speak the truth.

“When he sang, he sang about the people. He sang about the community. He did a lot for the kids; he went to the schools and would sing for the kids.”

Sanchez was born in Blythe, California, to Mexican immigrant parents, both of whom were farm laborers. Growing up, he also worked as a farm laborer while he perfected his musical talents and learned to compose his own songs, which became known for their political messages in the Chicano community. Sanchez often performed at rallies and marches for the United Farm Workers Union, many times at the request of César Chávez.

"He was involved with César Chávez so much that when César Chávez marched, he always called for Chunky because he loved Chunky’s music," Arenas explained. "No matter where he was at, he would call Chunky to come play with him at his marches and Chunky would drop what he was doing to go and play with him."

Over the years, he performed in musical groups, including La Rondalla Amerindia de Aztlan and Los Alacranes. He received many awards over his lifetime, including several from the California Arts Council and the City of San Diego Commission on Arts and Culture, as well as the César Chávez Humanitarian Award. In 2013, Sanchez was named a National Heritage Fellow by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

He also served as a Little League coach and youth center director, his family said.

Chunky is the subject of a documentary film by Paul Espinosa, currently in post-production, titled, "Singing My Way to Freedom."

“If you want to learn more about the Chicano community, you need to listen to Chunky’s music,” said Samano. “His heart and soul was in the community.”

Arenas told NBC 7 he will forever carry the legacy and lessons of Sanchez in his heart.

“Another thing that he always told us: the most dangerous Chicano was not a gangster. It was to be an educated Chicano,” Arenas recounted. “Chunky has taught us to never give up and always move forward. Forever love, Chunky. Arriba.”

“We’re going to miss him. This is a great loss,” Samano told NBC 7. “He’s an activist and he got out and he did things. He didn’t just talk about it. He was action.”

Chunky's family and friends have established an online funding page here to raise money to help his family cover funeral and burial costs. As of 12 p.m. Thursday, more than $6,500 had been raised. To help, visit this GoFundMe page.

The community is invited to leave their memories of Chunky on the family's official Facebook page here.



Photo Credit: Monica Garske, NBC 7 San Diego
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Advocacy Group Urges SD Leaders To Make Roads Safer

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A local safe streets advocacy group says the crash that killed a Rancho Penasquitos woman is the city's the sixth fatality this year.

Circulate San Diego advocates for safer streets and greater mobility for walkers, cyclists and drivers. Last year, there were 22 deaths and 1,000 people seriously injured in traffic accidents, according to the group.

“There are traffic accidents every single day in San Diego and every day of the year someone is getting hurt or killed,” said Jim Stone, Executive Director Jim Stone said.

The victim, an elderly woman, was struck and killed while crossing Carmel Mountain Road just south of Gerana Street on Thursday night, according to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD). 

Although police say the driver was not impaired in any way and had been driving the posted speed limit.

But neighbors claim that cars are usually driving faster than the 40 mile per hour limit and there are no working street lights or signage to help prevent deadly crashes like these.

Augustine Fernandez, a friend of the victim's, said the woman had been walking over to her apartment with some clothes. The victim and her husband were going to move in to Fernandez' apartment.

“I'm so sorry this happened. I'm so shocked,” Fernandez said.

Frustrated neighbors shared their grievances with the heavy and fast moving traffic on the road. Scott Johnson's rant drew a crowd and even applause.

“Something needs to be done about this now. This is too late someone was killed here tonight,” Johnson said.

Coincidentally, Circulate San Diego released its Vision Zero video on Friday. It's an initiative to eliminate vehicular deaths and serious accidents in San Diego.

A year ago, the City of San Diego adopted the Vision Zero resolution, formed a task force to study problem areas and even came up with a strategic plan.

“They need to activate it. They need to implement it. They need to make it happen because this is literally a matter of life and death,” Stone said.

The group says the stretch of Carmel Mountain Road where the accident occured is not among the list of most dangerous corridors but that doesn't diminish the need to make improvements which could save lives.

The Vision Zero initiative identified eight of San Diego's deadliest major corridors. Two are in the University City area.

You can see the list for the most dangerous eight here.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

High Surf Advisory in Place Through Monday

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San Diegans can expect some major waves at local beaches on this first weekend of November – so big, a High Surf Advisory has been issued.

The National Weather Service (NWS) said Saturday that the advisory remains in effect through 6 p.m. Monday, with waves building over the next couple of days.

On Saturday, waves between 4 and 7 feet are expected, with sets up to 9 feet north of Newport Beach and South of Del Mar, the NWS said.

At other local beaches, surf will be between 3 and 6 feet, with local sets of waves up to 7 feet. Beachgoers can expect midday high tides of about five feet Saturday, decreasing to 4.4 feet by Monday, according to the NWS.

The high surf can cause challenging swimming conditions – especially for inexperienced swimmers. There is a danger of strong rip currents, which can increase risks for drowning. Swimmers should obey all posted warnings and listen to lifeguards.



Photo Credit: Artie Ojeda/NBC 7
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San Diego Among Best Cities for Tourists: Report

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America’s Finest City is also among the best cities for tourists in 2016 – at least according to a newly-released report.

Personal finance company, ValuePenguin, published a report examining the “Best Cities for Tourists” in 2016 and, as it turns out, San Diego-Carlsbad ranks No. 8.

The rankings on the most visitor-friendly cities looked at 200 metropolitan areas in the United States. Criteria used in the analysis included a city’s walkability, safety and weather, as well as tour guide wages and other factors such as how many hotels and breweries operate in a city.

The report concluded that San Diego ranks 20th when it comes to tourist attractions and 8th overall.

San Diego follows these other top-notch tourist cities on the list, in order:

1) Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, California
2) San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, California
3) Omaha-Council Bluffs, Nebraska and Iowa
4) New Orleans-Metairie, Louisiana
5) Charleston-North Charleston, South Carolina
6) Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa
7) Austin-Round Rock, Texas

To read the full report, click here.



Photo Credit: Monica Garske
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