A trial date of Nov. 13 has been set for the alleged drunk driver who cut off a motorcyclist’s path which resulted in the death of the motorcyclist in the South Bay.
Toribio Martinez Sanchez, 30, has pleaded not guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI in the Nov. 28, 2017, death of Alexis Corona, 24.
At least six expert witnesses testified in the preliminary hearing and a detective said Sanchez may have been using his cell phone before the 7:10 p.m. incident on Coronado Avenue. Sanchez, the driver of Dodge Durango, made a left hand turn across the motorcyclist’s path onto Thermal Avenue, according to Deputy District Attorney Laura Evans.
Corona was thrown off his motorcycle onto the windshield of a Nissan Altima that was stopped at a red light on Thermal Avenue. He died before he could be taken to a hospital.
Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Garry Haehnle conducted the preliminary hearing over two days. Corona worked as an Uber driver.
“He loved riding that motorcycle,” said his brother, Dustin Rivera, several days after his death, to KNSD-TV (Channel 7) reporter Dave Summers.
“He was always the guy that was having fun and smiling. I want him to be remembered as the guy who was always happy,” said Rivera in the interview.
Sanchez was arrested by San Diego Police and he remains in the George Bailey Detention Facility on $1 million bail. He has waived his right to have a speedy trial.
