Teen Arrested After Fatal Crash
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (May 17, 2022) — Police arrested Christopher Schmittel, 19, on suspicion of DUI, gross vehicular manslaughter and murder after the deaths of two passengers in his vehicle that crashed at Torrey Pines State Beach.
As of Monday afternoon, Christopher Schmittel was being held in jail without bail.
The deadly crash occurred about 11 p.m. on April 25th as the teen drove a Subaru WRX southbound on Torrey Pines Road.
The driver was allegedly traveling at high speeds when he lost control of the car. The vehicle crashed through a guardrail, went off a ledge and landed on the beach. There were four passengers in his vehicle at the time of the crash. Two of them died in the collision and two others suffered injuries.
The two young men who died were identified as Johnny Ildefonzo Punzalan and Joshua Manzanares, both 19 years old. Both were reportedly not wearing seatbelts and were thrown from the car during the collision, according to the San Diego Medical Examiner’s Office.
Additionally, two other passengers ages 18 and 19 suffered serious injuries and were hospitalized. Schmittel also suffered serious injuries and was taken to a hospital.
The investigation by the San Diego Police Department is ongoing. They can be reached at (619) 531-2000 or the anonymous Crime Stoppers tip line at (888) 580-8477
Johnson Attorneys Group does not represent any of the parties mentioned above. Furthermore, Johnson Attorneys Group does not intend to represent any of the parties discussed. We hope this information is timely and helpful. However, if you would like to contribute any information or have legal questions, please contact us as soon as possible. Our law firm is a proud, longtime supporter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
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