Driver, 21, is killed in street racing at 100 mph

Source: Union Tribune
Author: Staff
Date: 2002/02/14

Illegal street racing claimed the life of a 21-year-old driver last night when he lost control of his car on state Route 52 at an estimated 100 mph, authorities said.

The Medical Examiner's Office identified him as Phillip Miyano of San Diego. He was a student at Cal State San Marcos.

Witnesses said he was racing two other motorists westbound past Convoy Street when he swerved off the right shoulder.

His Acura Integra skidded sideways across low brush for about 200 feet and slammed into a tree, which killed him instantly, said Sgt. Bob Barkley of the California Highway Patrol.

One of the other racers, in a silver Volkswagen GTI, kept going and is wanted for questioning, Barkley said. One driver believed involved stopped and was detained by officers.

"We don't know if they met on the freeway as they were driving along, or were friends," Barkley said. "We will be interviewing the other driver, to investigate what part he played in this, and what charges, if any, would be filed."

Barkley said one witness told officers that, based on his own speed, the three racers was going more than 100 mph. They went through a highway section noted for its rolling dips, but Barkley said it wasn't immediately clear if those caused Miyano to lose control of his Acura.

Street racing has claimed many lives in the county in the last two years, most recently that of 16-year-old Sarah Sproul of Ramona.

She died April 29 in what the CHP said was a race with a pickup on state Route 67, where she went off the road and down a steep bank.

And two men went on trial this week for a street-race crash that killed Shanna Jump and Brian Hanson, both 19, in San Diego last October. Their passenger, Hanson's brother Michael, suffered brain damage.

Gordon Waller, 32, struck Jump's car on Imperial Avenue while racing his friend, Lawrence Calhoun, 29, who did not stop after the crash. Their lawyers say they are guilty only of involuntary manslaughter, while county prosecutors filed murder charges against both, contending that they knew racing is dangerous.

Questions, comments and criticisms can be directed to: Jeff