A 34-year-old man was arrested in San Diego early Friday after he allegedly broke into an apartment, took off his clothes and told the resident he wanted to take a shower, officials confirmed.

The bizarre break-in happened around 12:10 a.m. at an apartment building in the 8700 block of Jamacha Road in Spring Valley and involved suspect Michael Dolias, according to deputies.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said the suspect removed and broke an air-conditioning unit attached to a wall on the apartment's first-floor balcony and forced his way into the home.

Once inside, he disrobed.

The resident of the apartment found him naked. When confronted, the suspect told the resident he was there "to take a shower," the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said.

A struggle ensued between the pair. Officials said a neighbor came over to help and together the neighbor and resident were able to subdue the nude suspect until deputies arrived.

The suspect sustained minor cuts in the struggle and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. He was then charged with burglary, officials said.

Dolias was booked into San Diego Central Jail and is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday. The sheriff’s department said it appears the suspect has a lengthy criminal record.

No other injuries were reported in the home invasion.

Officials said it is unknown, at this point, if Dolias was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the break-in. The investigation is ongoing.
 

A father who left his 4-year-old son bleeding on the side of a freeway after crashing his truck was sentenced to four years behind bars on Friday.

Angelo Fabiani, 41, was convicted of hit-and-run on March 23 in connection with the rollover accident that killed his young son, Valentino, on June 2, 2013, near Old Town San Diego.

Fabiani’s Nissan Titan struck a palm tree on the side of Interstate 5. Fabiani cut his wounded son from his car seat but after freeing the boy from the wreckage, Valentino tumbled 10 feet to the concrete below.

Fabiani walked away from the scene of the crash before police and paramedics arrived. Valentino was taken to Children’s Hospital where he died of head injuries just over a week later.

Last month, a jury found Fabiani guilty of hit-and-run but not felony child abuse. Fabiani's four-year sentence was the maximum time he could receive for the hit-and-run conviction.

Prosecutor Marisa DiTillio said she was pleased with the sentencing but said Valentino's mother will forever be scarred by the untimely death of her son.

“We don’t know if hearing his dad’s voice [after the crash] might have given [Valentino] some peace. He was four. He should not have been alone,” DiTillio said in court.

The prosecutor took a moment to read a letter from Valentino's mother to the court, saying the mother could not attend the sentencing because it was all too emotionally overwhelming.

“My son, Valentino Fabiani, was my world and was taken away at four-and-a-half years of age and left on a cold pavement by his own father. How he could leave him to just lay there all alone and hurting is beyond my comprehension. Only a coward could walk away from their child thinking of their own fate,” said DiTillio, reading the letter.

“I constantly think of my son and pray that he didn’t hurt for a second,” she continued. “I will never see my son get his first car, his first girlfriend. I won’t see him graduate, get his first job, get married or see his children. All because of this horrible situation and it truly breaks my heart.”

The letter described the young boy as "bright and lively." In the note, the mother said her heart breaks every day around 3 p.m. because that's the time she would pick up Valentino from school each day.

DiTillio told the court that Valentino's heart was donated to another child. That gives the boy's mother some peace, she said.

Fabiani was also given a chance to address the court during his sentencing.

“I am very much sorry about my reaction to the accident. There are a lot of things I would probably do different in hindsight, but I’ve never had to rescue my own flesh and blood. I’ve never seen him with anything other than little playground scrapes on him. This is not an everyday occurrence – this is not something I’m used to. I’m not an EMT, I’m not a police officer, I’m not a rescue person,” said Fabiani.

“I also have memories of Valentino. I will also not have those memories [of him growing up],” he continued. “I’m sorry for the way I reacted. If I saw him bleeding again in the truck the first thing I would do is try to get him out. But that’s not the way things happened that night.”

During Fabiani’s trial, his defense attorney, Allen Bloom, argued that Fabiani loved his son “passionately and intensely” and was not in his right mind when he left the crash scene and walked 19 miles to his home in Imperial Beach.

However, prosecutors argued Fabiani did nothing to help his dying son or assist police, even though he must have known authorities were looking for him.

Valentino’s mother previously testified that Fabiani never came to the hospital to check on their son in the eight days before the young boy died. She also said she never got a phone call or text from Fabiani.

In September 2014, Fabiani spoke with NBC 7 about the night of the deadly crash, claiming he was in complete “shock” following the accident.

“I just knew there was no coming back from this,” he said in that interview with NBC 7.

Fabiani claimed he walked away from the wreckage because he couldn’t bring himself to see his son critically injured like that. He said that during his 19-mile walk to his home he sat alone near the water at a place where he would often play with his son.

After the sentencing, NBC 7 spoke with Fabiani's stepfather, Andre Lujan Jr., who said the family was "heartbroken."

“Hopefully, the time he’s in there he’ll get some more help. Psychologically, this kid has gone through a lot,” said Lujan Jr.

A man convicted of killing an elderly neighbor after breaking into her home nearly two years ago was sentenced to life in prison Friday.

Jeff Boswell, 45, was found guilty in the July 10, 2013 slaying of Blanche Griffin, 87. Boswell killed Griffin after breaking into her home on F Street in San Diego’s Golden Hill area.

A judge denied the defense’s motion for a new trial Friday and imposed the maximum sentence of life without the possibility of parole for Boswell, plus a consecutive 20 years and four months in state prison.

According to investigators, the elderly victim died as a result of suffering blunt force trauma to her head, neck and chest. She had also been strangled, according to prosecutors.

Boswell was charged with Griffin’s murder on Aug. 13, 2013. He had been arrested 10 days earlier for an unrelated liquor store burglary. Police soon linked him to Griffin’s murder.

According to prosecutors, Boswell had moved into his girlfriend’s duplex behind Griffin’s home prior to her murder. Boswell’s girlfriend told police she saw him looking “disheveled” on the day Griffin’s body was found. Prosecutors said Boswell’s DNA was found under Griffin’s fingernails and on her neck.

Just after Griffin’s murder, San Diego police issued an alert asking any witnesses with information on the case to come forward.

Investigators at the crime scene said several pieces of jewelry were missing from Griffin’s home, including two rings. Sketches of the missing rings were released in an effort to track down leads on the murder. Griffin’s computer had also been stolen from her home.

Prosecutors said Boswell had committed several burglaries in July 2013 to support a drug habit.
 

John Davalos came face to face with a naked burglar in his Spring Valley apartment just after midnight on Friday.

“Hey bro, I just want to take a shower,” the stranger told Davalos as he stood in Davalos’ bathroom.

Instantly, Davalos said he knew he had to stay calm to keep his wife and two daughters -- asleep in the next room -- safe in the bizarre and disturbing home break-in.

“I said ‘OK’ and I closed the door,” he told NBC 7. “I went, grabbed my cellular, dialed 911, grabbed a knife and tried to tell him to stay right there.”

Suddenly, the intruder lunged for the knife, trying to wrestle Davalos for it. Davalos punched him and the two started wrestling.

That’s when Davalos’ brother-in-law came in the bathroom and helped Davalos subdue the intruder.

“I was scared for my daughters,” he said. “He was so strong. He was a strong guy.”

The suspect, identified by police as Michael Dolias, sustained minor cuts in the struggle and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Dolias had apparently gained entry to the apartment by removing the family's air conditioning unit and crawling through the space. He was then charged with burglary, officials said.

Dolias was booked into San Diego Central Jail and is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Davalos said he doesn’t even want to imagine what could have happened if he wasn’t at home.

“Luckily nothing bad happened,” he said. “My family is safe and he is in jail.”

A volunteer high school football coach is being held on $450,000 bail on suspicion of sexually assaulting current and former students.

At least one of 46-year-old Jaime Jimenez's alleged victims is under the age of 14, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman said. It has not been confirmed if the victims are boys or girls.

Jimenez has been a volunteer coach at Franklin High School since 1998, and investigators believe there may be victims that are former students who are now adults.

Students and parents were shocked to discover the trusted coach had been arrested.

"I think it's pretty frightening because this is a place where im supposed to feel safe, and to think that something like that could occur kind of scares me," student Cesar Velazquez said.

"I'm hoping the schools going to reach out to the parents as soon as they know more," parent Axel Velazquez said.

Guillermo Cuordova had received coaching from Jimenez in the past, and he said the school football team were shaken by the arrest.

"They're shocked, they're really shocked because he's a good guy," Cuordova said. "He helped me get my skills better and just be a better player and was always there for me."

Jimenez  was arrested about 11:30 p.m. Thursday. He has since been removed from his position on the school's coaching team. It is unclear if he has any legal representation at this time.

"It's really unfortunate when someone who's in that kind of position as a role model becomes close with the students to gain their trust and then victimizes them," LAPD Officer Jane Kim said.

A Los Angeles Unified School District spokesman said the organization is cooperating with the police investigation. 

Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact detectives on (323) 344-5742.

Pope Francis expressed his condolences on the passing of Cardinal Francis George in a telegram to Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich sent Saturday morning.

"Saddened to learn of the death of Cardinal Francis E. George, Archbishop Emeritus of Chicago, I offer heartfelt condolences to you and to the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese," the pope wrote.

"With gratitude for Cardinal George's witness of consecrated life as an Oblate of Mary Immaculate, his service to the Church's educational apostolate and his years of episcopal ministry in the Churches of Yakima, Portland and Chicago, I join you in commending the soul of this wise and gentle pastor to the merciful love of God our heavenly Father. To all who mourn the late Cardinal in the sure hope of the Resurrection, I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of consolation and peace in the Lord."

Cardinal George passed away Friday at 78 years old following a long battle with cancer. The pope received word of the cardinal's death in Rome in the late evening.

Pope Francis said he had "great esteem" for Cardinal George and was very close to him during his suffering.

The pope appointed Archbishop Cupich to succeed Cardinal George after his retirement in 2012. Following the cardinal's death, Archbishop Cupich called the cardinal "a man of peace, tenacity and courage."

Three days of services have been planned for Cardinal George, beginning April 21 at Holy Name Cathedral.

San Diego police are searching for two men who held up a Clairemont car wash on Friday night.

One of the suspects entered Gentle Touch Car Wash at 7215 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. at about 9:40 p.m. Armed with a handgun, the man told two people to get on the ground.

The second suspect entered and watched as the first man took an undisclosed amount of cash, San Diego police said.

The two men left in a black Mercedes driven by a third suspect. Police weren’t sure which direction the men headed.

The first man is described as dark skinned, between 25 and 35 years old, 6 feet tall and wearing a black hoodie.

The second man is also described as dark skinned between 25 and 30 years old, 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 7 inches tall and wearing a blue hoodie and black pants.

A 23-year-old mother who went missing with her newborn daughter in early April has been found stabbed to death in a home in Gary, Indiana, police said.

The body of Samantha Fleming, of Anderson, Indiana, wrapped in plastic, stuffed in a storage bin and soaked in bleach at about 3 p.m. Friday, according to Lieutenant Thomas Pawlak of the Gary Police Department. The body was found in a home in the 1900 block of Cleveland Street.

Pawlak confirmed multiple stab wounds as the cause of death.

Fleming left her home in Anderson on April 6 with an African-American woman claiming to be with the Indiana Department of Child Services who told Fleming she had a hearing in Lake Superior Court, police said. Fleming's boyfriend reported her missing soon after.

Anderson Police investigators found no record of an employee with the Department of Child Services at Fleming's residence on April 6.

Fleming's cellphone records led police to Gary to investigate the young mother's whereabouts. A groundskeeper at an apartment complex in Gary also found Fleming's wallet the day she went missing.

The woman who lived in the house has been identified as "person of interest," but she is currently hospitalized in a mental health facility in Texas for treatment of depression, police said. She has not been charged.

The suspect's family members said she had previously claimed to be pregnant with twins, but they became suspicious after inconsistencies in her alleged due date. In recent weeks, the woman told family members she delivered one child and lost the other one in birth, police said. She then requested that no one visit her at the hospital.

Fleming's three-week-old daughter, Serenity, was found safe in the care of the alleged supsect's sister, who was in the home.

When police arrived at the home, they found a woman holding an infant girl. The woman could not identify the baby and said she belonged to her sister, who left for Texas a week before, police said.

The sister also said she had only been in the house 30 minutes before police arrived and complained of a foul odor coming from within the home.

Police then discovered the body of a young woman in the home who was later identified as Fleming. The infant appeared unharmed and has been returned to family in Indianapolis.

The family of a woman whose dismembered remains were found dumped in a swamp in Panama felt a sense of relief Friday after the man suspected in the murder was formally charged.

“After all these years, there is a sense of relief – as sense of validation – that he has been formally charged,” the victim’s niece, Lauren Beyer, said in an exclusive interview with NBC 7.

Beyer was referring to Brian Brimager, a 37-year-old retired Marine accused in the 2011 killing of his girlfriend, Yvonne Baldelli, 37.

Brimager is suspected of dumping Baldelli’s remains in the Panamanian jungle before undergoing an elaborate scheme to cover up the murder, including sending emails to Baldelli’s friends and family from her laptop to make it seem as if she were still alive.

A federal grand jury in San Diego indicted Brimager on a charge of foreign murder of a U.S. National Friday. He pleaded not guilty.

The formal charges were a major break in the case for Baldelli’s family who has struggled for years seeking justice for their loved one.

On Friday, family members came from as far away as New York to see Brimager get charged after all this time.

“There is no sense of remorse. There is no glimmer of humanity in his eyes,” Beyer said of the man accused in the grisly murder of her aunt.

According to the family, they saw exactly what they expected in that courtroom from the accused murder suspect.

“He's a cold, methodical person,” said James Faust, Baldelli’s father.

Beyer told NBC 7 she couldn’t help but stare at the hands of the defendant in the courtroom.

“These are the hands that did this,” she said, overcome with emotion. “These are the hands that are responsible for killing her.”

In September 2011, Brimager, a former Camp Pendleton Marine, and Baldelli traveled to Panama to stay on Isla Carenero, an island off the coast accessible only by boat.

Baldelli was last seen with Brimager at a Panamanian restaurant on Nov. 26, 2011.

After Baldelli turned up missing, family members joined the search for her in the swamps of Panama against the backdrop of happy, tanning tourists – a difficult memory Beyer said she will never forget.

“It's surreal; it’s horrible. And all the while there are people having Tequila Sunrises [on the beach] and listening to Jimmy Buffet,” she recounted. “It's the worst thing you could ever experience.”

The family said Brimager returned to the U.S. two weeks after Baldelli disappeared. According to prosecutors, the defendant then allegedly pretended to be Baldelli in emails sent to family and friends to make it appear like she was still alive and traveling to Costa Rica with another man.

He also allegedly used Baldelli’s ATM card in Costa Rica and San Jose.

Prosecutors allege Brimager killed Baldelli and later disposed of a bloody mattress at their hostel. Court documents say Brimager used the victim’s laptop to search for information on how to get blood stains out of a mattress.

Brimager is also accused of stuffing Baldelli’s belongings into garbage bags and disposing of the bags on a dock outside their hostel.

Prosecutors said Brimager lied to investigators about Baldelli’s disappearance and told them she took her laptop while traveling. Her laptop was found in his possession in 2012, at which point he changed his story, adding that he never sent emails from it.

Nearly two years after she vanished, Baldelli’s body was found on a small island off the Isla Carenero coastline. Scientists used DNA analysis on her skull and bones to identify her.

Today, her family seeks justice and they said neither time nor distance can discourage them in their pursuit.

“I had a special relationship with Yvonne. We always had a special bond,” Faust said.

“We were always very close, since I was a little girl,” added Beyer. “The fact that this day has come; it means a lot to me.”

The defense has requested three months to go over the Panamanian government's investigation of the murder laid out in hundreds of pages and documents.

The case returns to court for a status hearing June 27.

Charges are pending against Brimager in Panama as well.
 

Nearly 100 McDonald’s locations throughout San Diego will begin testing an all-day breakfast menu on Monday, and customers got a taste Saturday in Kearny Mesa.

The McDonald’s outlet on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard hosted a preview event, offering Egg McMuffins, sausage burritos and other breakfast items.

The restaurant handed out prizes to patrons during the event Saturday morning, including a year’s worth of free breakfast sandwiches to one lucky customer.

Starting Monday, McDonald’s Corp. will begin its test of offering breakfast all day long at the fast food chain, using 94 of the 110 San Diego County McDonald’s locations as its tester eateries.

According to the company, offering will vary by location, but items will include McMuffins, hash browns, burritos and hotcakes, among the all-day breakfast options.

Until now, those items have only been available to customers until 10:30 a.m. at most locations across the U.S.

Burger Business reports that the menu will feature nine items – not the full McDonald’s breakfast menu, including McGriddles.

A company spokesperson told NBC 7 on Saturday that it is not yet known how long this all-day breakfast experiment will run. If it’s successful, he said, the company may consider prolonging the test in San Diego.

He said managers will speak with customers about their experience with the menu to gauge the response.

The spokesperson said this test run is something customers have been wanting for a long time.

“Our customers have been asking for breakfast all day for quite some time and today, in San Diego, we’re making that happen,” he added.

The San Diego Business Journal reported earlier this week that the company has recently been “tweaking its menu in response to sagging sales and increasing competition from other chains now offering breakfast, most recently including Taco Bell.”
 

There were a few firsts at Wrigley Field on Saturday. Matt Kemp hit his first home run as a Padre. Kris Bryant got his first hit and RBI as a big league ballplayer.

The Padres then overcame a 4-run, 9th-inning deficit for the first time in years to force bonus baseball, only to watch their All-Star closer take his first loss as a Padre. Chicago won 7-6 in 11 innings.

Kemp's dinger came in the first inning, a 2-run shot off Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks. After that, the San Diego bats were silenced. Until the 9th inning, that is.

Ross whiffed nine in 5.2 innings. He allowed Bryant's first hit, an RBI single in the 5th inning to score Dexter Fowler and tie the game at 2-2. In the 6th Ross gave up a solo home run to catcher Miguel Montero, who hit two homers in the game, the second coming an inning later off reliever Chris Rearick, who allowed the first run of his MLB career.

Down 6-2 in the 9th, the Padres bats erupted. Yonder Alonso singled, Matt Kemp singled, Justin Upton singled to score Alonso, Will Middlebrooks doubled to score Kemp, Jedd Gyorko hit in to a fielder's choice to score Upton, Alexi Amarista struck out, Yangervis Solarte ripped a pinch-hit single to score Middlebrooks and the game was all tied at 6. It was the second time this year the Padres have scored four runs in the 9th. They never got more than three runs in the 9th inning of any game in 2014.

That gave the Friars a chance to get their first extra-innings win of the season. Instead, Craig Kimbrel allowed a bases-loaded single to Chicago shortstop Starlin Castro and the Cubs walked off winners.

The Padres can get their first win in a road series on Sunday behind Andrew Cashner, who is looking for his first win of the year, against Cubs lefty Jon Lester, who would like to get his first win in a Cubs uniform.
 

A pickup truck drove into a Los Angeles, California, restaurant backed by a reknowned chef Saturday afternoon, fire officials said.

One person was injured in the crash at Osteria Mozza, near the intersection of Highland and Melrose avenues, according to tweets from the Los Angeles Fire Department.

One person suffered a non-life-threatening injury and was sent to a hospital after the 12:45 p.m. crash, fire officials said. The restaurant later said in a tweet that "everyone will be OK."

The restaurant was closed when the truck hit it, according to the tweets.

Chef and TV host Mario Batali is part of the creative team behind the restaurant, according to its website, which said it would be closed Saturday night.

UPDATE: There was a car crash into the front door of #osteriamozza. Everyone will be ok.

— Osteria Mozza (@OsteriaMozza) April 18, 2015

A 3-year-old boy who died after his mother accidentally ran over him with her car as she attempted a parking maneuver has been identified by the San Diego County Medical Examiner.

The ME’s office confirmed the boy was Escondido resident Gerardo Sosa. He had just turned three last month, according to the ME’s report.

On Thursday evening, the boy’s mother was parking her car in a cul-de-sac in the 400 block of West Fourth Avenue. Somehow, Gerardo unfastened himself from his car seat and got out of the car.

Escondido police said the mother was unaware that the boy had exited the vehicle. When she pulled forward to park, she hit him. The woman took Gerardo to Palomar Medical Center, but he was pulseless when he arrived. He died shortly thereafter from blunt force injuries to the head sustained in the tragic accident.

The ME’s report said the mother felt like she had ran over an object after the collision. When she stopped her car, she noticed Gerardo was not in his car seat. When she got out of the car, she saw Gerardo on the ground with blood on his face.

The collision remains under investigation, but police do not believe drugs or alcohol played a factor.

NBC 7 spoke with witnesses at the scene of the accident Thursday who described the accident as chaotic, with family members screaming and crying at the sight of the wounded boy.

"From a father's point of view that is the scariest thing anyone can go through," said neighbor Andre Mendez. "My son is 7 and I feel bad. Very bad for her."

How much would you pay to visit a local museum? Well, the Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) in Balboa Park is letting visitors decide what their cost of admission should be.

The museum is the only one in Balboa Park – and in Southern California – to launch a “Pay What You Wish” program.

Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, visitors can choose their own admission price with a voluntary contribution to the museum. The “Pay What You Wish” admission includes access to MOPA’s current exhibitions, including the multimedia exhibit, “7 billion others.”

“Pay What You Wish” will run through Aug. 28 thanks to a grant supported by The Parker Foundation. It will then be further evaluated to determine if it will become a regular program.

This special program follows a renovation of MOPA, which included the installation of a new gallery and
store. The program also runs during Balboa Park’s centennial celebration.

“We think the Pay What You Wish program, like the work we do around accessibility and comfort, is a way of opening opportunities for visitors to engage with us,” said Joaquin Ortiz, MOPA Director of Education and Innovation in a press release.

“Our hope is to show the positive benefits of the program and to offer it in the future to make the museum a more inclusive place for the people of San Diego,” he added.

MOPA and the museum store are open Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Normally, admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and retired military and $6 for students. Admission is free for MOPA Members, active military with ID and children age 12 and under. Also, entry is free to San Diego County residents the second Tuesday of every month.

The Virginia towing company at the center of the ESPN Britt McHenry viral rant video, Advanced Towing Company, has been the subject of 155 complaints from 2012 to 2014, according to Arlington County Police records.

This number of complaints is almost twice as many as the other towing companies in Arlington combined, according to statistics recently gathered by the News4 I-team.

Police also determined Advanced Towing committed 15 violations in during this time.

"They are like thieves," said Carlos Martinez, whose car was towed while he went to an ATM for cash. "We leave the car and immediately they stole our car and we have to pay a reward to get our car back."

After having lunch, Martinez parked his Dodge Caravan in the lot near the Boston Market restaurant at Columbia Pike and S. Glebe Road. He crossed the street to the Bank of America to get cash, but when he returned, his van was gone. Advanced Towing took it to the impound lot a few miles away, slapping Martinez with at $135 bill.

Now Martinez is joining others who've been towed in accusing Advanced Towing of predatory practices.

In December, a woman complained after her vehicle was towed with her dog inside.

Earlier this month, Max Daout was outraged when he was inside a CVS and an Advanced tow truck driver hooked his car with his two children inside. The children yelled, and the driver unhooked and took off.

"When I started crying he said I'm sorry for freaking you out," said 7-year-old Max Daout.

His father called Advanced Towing about the incident but says he never got an explanation or apology.

"I would like them to be held accountable for the predatory practices that they are implementing by towing cars that are legally parked," said Max Daout.

In early April, after the children were nearly towed away, owner John O'Neil said anytime a driver leaves the lot they parked in to go do business outside that shopping area, they can be towed.

News4 emailed Advanced Towing's owner for comment and stopped by the business but received no response.

Sidney Crosby scored twice and the Pittsburgh Penguins evened their first-round playoff series with the New York Rangers with a 4-3 win Saturday night.

The Rangers won Game 1 by making Crosby virtually invisible and keeping Evgeni Malkin out of the danger zone. On Saturday, both of them and the Penguins as a whole showed more jump, possessing the puck and keeping New York off-balance. Forcing turnovers in the decisive second period, shutting down the Rangers' power play and generally controlling the pace, the Penguins got even.

Crosby, naturally, was at the center of the turnaround. He broke a 1-1 tie by knocking in a rebound of Patric Hornqvist's shot in the second period. Then Crosby made a diving deflection past Henrik Lundqvist of a pass from Chris Kunitz on the right wing boards following a Rangers giveaway in their zone.

Game 3 is Monday night in Pittsburgh.

Local companies in the business to demolish pools are seeing an uptick in requests, as an increasing number of homeowners are ditching them in the name of conservation.

Across California there are more than one million swimming pools. Considering all that water, is it worth getting rid of the backyard pool to conserve during the drought?

Bobcat Billy with James Construction Cleanup, who was demolishing a Lakeside pool this week, said that for years people got rid of their pools because of maintenance costs or wanting more backyard space. Now, the drought may be pushing more homeowners over the edge.

“People are like, ‘Hey, there we go. We’re going to get rid of this thing now,’” Billy said.

He used to see an older clientele requesting his services, but now his clients are much younger.

Scripps Ranch resident Kathy Woodworth told NBC 7 she was removing her pool because of California’s drought.

“This is really not a good use of my money or water,” she said. “We just don’t have any water.”

A demolition like hers can run from $7,000 to $12,000, not including landscaping costs. But Woodworth said replacing the pool where her daughters once swam is worth it.

“It was more an emotional thing,” she said. “Once it was gone, I was surprised at how happy I was.”

Soon the space in her backyard will be replaced with a new barbeque, fireplace and chairs, but no grass.

A pedestrian attempting to cross northbound State Route 163 was killed after being hit by a car, officials confirmed.

The deadly accident happened around 12:30 a.m. at northbound SR-163 just south of Friars Road.

California Highway Patrol officials said two pedestrians were trying to cross the freeway when one of them was struck by an oncoming vehicle. That pedestrian died at the scene.

The driver of the vehicle remained on scene. He sustained minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital. The other pedestrian was not hurt.

CHP Sgt. Sofia Mosquera said the fatal collision is under investigation but officials do not believe drugs or alcohol contributed.

The name of the victim killed in the accident was not immediately released. The San Diego County Medical Examiner's office confirmed he was 30 years old and an active duty service member. His birthday was last week, according to the ME report.