Wednesday, June 11, 2008

16 YEAR OLD GIRL KILLED IN QUAD ACCIDENT

By DAVID ROSS
Some material was contributed by Samantha Carr
Tuesday 1:15 p.m., a 16-year old Valley Center High School student, Catherine Peltzer, was thrown from her four-wheel farm vehicle. She later died.
Also injured was her passenger, a 15-year old boy, Seth Redbird, who was not related to her, but is of Valley Center. He was treated at Palomar Medical Center for multiple lacerations to his face.
According to the California Highway Patrol Miss Peltzer was driving a Kubota RTV-900 (Farming Vehicle) on Oak Trail Road southbound, at an unknown speed. The driver lost control of the vehicle, drove over the east road edge and down an embankment.
The Kubota rolled over once, ejecting the driver and her passenger. Miss Peltzer sustained major internal injuries and was transported to Palomar Medical center where she was pronounced dead.
Redbird was also transported to Palomar Medical and was treated for multiple lacerations to his face.
Alcohol and/or drugs were not a factor in this collision, according to the CHP.
The girl, who was a sophomore, was not technically a student at the high school. She had transferred out earlier in the year.
At the high school they put up a large swath of butcher paper for kids to write things about the deceased for her parents to keep.
A psychologist is on call at the high school. Students can drop in at any time to talk about how they feel about Miss Peltzer’s death and how it’s affecting them.
There was a moment of silence Wednesday morning in all the classrooms.

One adult who knew her described her this way: “She was larger than life and an incredible personality. She was in the choir with Laralee Beck and had the voice of an angel.”
We will have more updates as events warrant.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

ALL QUIET ON THE BIKER FRONT

Sheriff's deputies and CHP officers who are out in force this weekend appear to be keeping the peace, although it may just be that the Mongol bikers visiting La Jolla Reservation don't plan any problems. The feared arrival of the Hell's Angels on Palomar Mountain doesn't seem to have materialized. The two groups are sworn enemies.

Our photographer went to La Jolla Rez Friday night where talked to some Mongol bikers that he described as "pretty nice guys" although they asked him not to take their pictures. We see regular patrols of deputies and CHP traveling in convoys up and down Valley Center Road from their HQ at the corner of VC Road & Cole Grade. They have also been noted on Hwy 76 where they occasionally stop motorists.