An 18-year-old driver who was involved in a head-on crash that killed a Pismo Beach woman in June will know in November whether he’ll stand trial for felony vehicular manslaughter.
Alex John Forester of San Luis Obispo has been charged with one count of felony vehicular manslaughter for the June 13 collision on Price Canyon Road that left 58-year-old Francheska Rubin dead.
Forester is also facing one misdemeanor count of possessing marijuana, which allegedly was discovered in the 2007 Audi RS4 sedan that he was driving when he collided head-on with Rubin.
He tested positive for marijuana after the deadly accident and was booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail, according to court records.
The teen, who posted $50,000 bail, has pleaded not guilty to both charges, and a preliminary hearing for the case has been set for Nov. 19 in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
During a preliminary hearing, the prosecution presents evidence to a judge in an attempt to show there’s a significant possibility that a person committed the crime and that a trial should take place.
Authorities believe that on June 13, Forester was driving the Audi eastbound on Price Canyon Road in heavy traffic, following the vehicle in front of him too closely.
He was allegedly looking out his left window at oncoming traffic and began drifting across the double yellow lines into the path of an oncoming 2001 Kia, according to police reports.
The driver of the Kia swerved and avoided Forester’s car but collided with a fourth vehicle, police added.
Forester was about 2 feet across the double-yellow lines when his vehicle then collided head-on with a 2003 Toyota Avalon driven by Rubin, who died at the scene, according to police reports.
September 25, 2008
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