A preliminary hearing was extended again this week for the two 17-year-old males who face charges of vehicular manslaughter, street racing and other offenses in the death of Gabriel Crispo, who was killed while jogging in the Huntington Drive median on Thursday, July 4 at 10:34 a.m. The hearing—which had been delayed in September until October 1—has now been postponed until Friday, December 6 at the request of attorneys for the two suspects and agreed to by the judge and representatives of the District Attorney’s office.
Crispo and his beloved dog, Niño—a Labrador Retriever which also died at the scene—were struck by a white Mercedes that had allegedly been involved in a street race in the westbound lane of Huntington Drive at the intersection of Kenilworth Rd. Crispo, a native of Argentina, was a Spanish and ESL teacher at Daniel Murphy and St. Francis High Schools and, most recently, Pasadena City College. A third suspect in the street race was investigated, but has not been charged.
The two suspects surrendered their driver’s licenses, but have been taken off house arrest and are attending high school. Their attorneys entered a request for a plea bargain and are seeking monitored home detention as punishment.
A source told The Tribune that the District Attorney’s office is seeking terms as long as a year in a juvenile detention camp for the suspects.
Meanwhile, a complaint for damages has been filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court against the two suspects and their parents by an attorney representing Rosa Crispo—Gabriel Crispo’s mother—and Marta Franco, Gabriel Crispo’s girlfriend and owner of Niño. Franco was jogging behind him when the accident occurred.
The lawsuit seeks punitive damages for negligence in what is called the “wrongful death” of Crispo, for negligence in the survival action and for violation of Civil Code section 3340; which specifies wrongful injuries to animals committed willfully or by gross negligence.
The suit does not indicate a dollar amount, but on the first count requests general damages in excess of the minimum jurisdiction of the court, special damages in excess of the minimum jurisdiction of the court, court costs and “further relief the court may deem just and proper.” On the second count, the suit request special damages according to proof and punitive damages against the two minors, On the third count, the suit seeks punitive damages against the two minors, court costs and “further relief the court may deem just and proper.”
“Mr. Crispo was a treasured member of the community and his loss has been felt by his family and friends across the globe, from Los Angeles to Argentina,” said Mark Hiepler, the attorney for the plaintiffs. “This case is about holding these individuals accountable for their negligent and reckless behavior, which led to this tragic loss.”
