Driver Who Triggered Crash that Killed 5 Believed to be in Mexico

OFF THE WIRE
Courtney Dwyer
Email: courtney.dwyer@sandiego6.com
EL CENTRO - The California Highway Patrol has reason to believe the the driver that caused a horrific crash on Saturday afternoon near Ocotillo may now be in Mexico.
On Tuesday Authorities plan to meet with Mexican officials to look over surveillance video from the Calexico Port of Entry. "My gut tells me he is in Mexico," says officer DeeAnn Goudie.
The vehicle description is a 4-door Gold Honda Civic with California license plates. The driver is believed to be a male and was seen wearing a dark baseball cap. The driver could face felony hit and run and gross vehicular manslaughter charges.
Meanwhile, no drunken driving charges will be filed against the driver injured Saturday when he veered into the group of motorcycles while trying to avoid the Honda Civic. The blood-alcohol test done on Carlos Ramirez Bobadilla, 36, of Mexicali, Mexico, came back negative and showed no alcohol in his system.
The six people killed in Saturday's crash have been identified as Ana Gonzalez, 31, Lance Heath, 43, and his wife, Amy, 36, of Alpine; George William Miller, 57, of Ramona; and Tonya Trayer, 37, of Lakeside.

LAKESIDE - An East County motorcycle club is mourning the loss of four of their own. 5 people died after an out of control car slammed right into a motorcycle pack. Now police are looking for the driver accused of causing this tragedy.John Lombardo is a member of the Saddletramps. He was injured in the collision. He said, "They were getting closer and closer, and then I thought Oh my God they are going to hit!"
Lombardo better known as "Smokey" to his Saddletramps brothers recalls his thoughts as two speeding cars veered away to miss each other.
The debris hit Lombardo, and pierced a hole right through his leg. Police say a driver in a gold Honda Civic sped past the group causing the Avenger to lose control.
Lombardo said, "That car swerved, so fast before we could do anything it was right on top of us."
Four of Lombardo's friends died along with a woman passenger in that Avenger. Multiple sources identified those killed as Bill Miller, Lance Heath and his wife Amy, along with Wilson Trayer's wife Tanya.

Saddletramps President Carl Smith was riding point when the accident happened. Smith is outraged the driver of the gold Honda Civic took off.

Smith said, "I want him to come forward, and be responsible for his actions."

As for the driver of the Avenger---he's been identified as 36-year old Carlos Ramirez Bobadilla of Mexicali. Officers say they smelled alcohol on him.


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