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Weber admits to drinking binge
before crash that killed cyclist
By Neal Putnam
The Alpine Sun
EL CAJON — The driver accused of
killing Edward Costa as he rode his bicycle on Alpine Boulevard
admitted to authorities he had been on a drinking binge for at
least five days and did not recall the Dec. 2 crash, according
to testimony at his preliminary hearing on Jan. 21.
Travis Chris Weber, 44, of Alpine, also did not recall
a minor collision with another car minutes before Costa, 30, was
struck in the bike lane at 4:50 p.m. near the Alpine sheriff's
substation, said California Highway Patrol officer Michael
Edwards.
"He said had been drinking for a week on a binge and
then said it was about five days," said Edwards.
"He related he did not know he had struck Mr. Costa,"
said Edwards.
Edwards said Weber's comments were tape-recorded and
were made to him on Dec. 4 after Weber's damaged Ford F-150
truck was spotted by friends of Costa's who were gathered at a
memorial near the Liar's Club bar parking lot.
After hours of testimony in a packed courtroom, El
Cajon Superior Court Judge Lantz Lewis ordered Weber to stand
trial for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, hit
and run with death, and crossing into a bike lane.
The judge said the defendant's own words indicate he
was driving in an alcoholic blackout. He described it as, "the
type of conduct that shows indifference to the safety of
others."
Attorneys on both sides stipulated to the cause of
death, which was blunt force trauma to Costa's head and neck.
They agreed to the stipulation so there was no need to call a
deputy medical examiner.
Weber's blood/alcohol level after his arrest on Dec. 4
was .19, which is twice the legal limit of .08%. Lewis dismissed
two misdemeanor counts of drunk driving on Dec. 4 because no one
said they saw him driving. People saw the damaged truck in the
parking lot and noticed it was the description of the hit and
run vehicle, but no one testified they saw him drive it that
day.
Lewis took note of a court exhibit entered into
evidence by Deputy District Attorney Gordon Davis, that showed
Weber was placed on probation in 2005 for drunk driving. He
added that Weber turned in proof of attending 48 meetings of
Alcoholics Anonymous, required by probation.
Davis said Weber faces a maximum prison term of 25
years if he is convicted. A trial date will be set on Feb. 4.
Weber has pleaded not guilty.
Attending the hearing were 25 friends and family
members of the victim, including his widow, Kristine Costa, his
mother, and sister. Also attending were members of Weber's
family.
Edwards testified he found three empty half-pint
bottles of vodka in Weber's truck along with some empty beer
cans and unopened cans of beer.
Edwards recounted a conversation he had with someone
who saw Weber at 6 p.m. Dec. 2 in Campo, about 1 and a half
hours after Costa had been struck. Edwards said the witness saw
Weber knock over a mailbox with his truck and that he appeared
to be drunk.
Sheriff's deputy Thomas Fletcher testified he asked the
bartender at the Liar's Club if he served alcohol to Weber. The
bartender told him Weber asked for two brands of beer that they
were out of, and Weber replied "just give me something good."
The bartender told Fletcher he served him a 16-ounce bottle of
Damnation, a German beer.
Darlene Blanchard testified Weber crashed his truck
into her Volkswagen Jetta on Alpine Boulevard, which was just
minutes before he later ran over Costa. Blanchard said she got
out of her car and exchanged information with Weber after
noticing minor damage to her car.
Blanchard said Weber acted strangely, but remained in
his truck and rolled his window down to give her his car
insurance card. She was asked if he appeared drunk, and she said
she was not close enough to him to tell.
Blanchard talked to her husband on her cell phone, and
he urged her to call 911. She said he did call 911, but at that
point, Weber drove off, leaving her holding his insurance card.
Edwards testified Weber could not remember running into the
Volkswagen.
Sid Turner, a CHP officer, testified there were "gouge
marks" left by the bicycle in the street where the truck ran
over it. He said the gouge marks were "completely in the bike
lane." He said the bicycle's green paint made transfer marks to
Weber's truck bumper. Turner testified he and others gathered up
all the pieces of the bicycle, which was crushed.
Turner said he interviewed several people who witnessed
the collision, and they said the driver made no attempt to stop
or render assistance and kept driving. He said he reported the
description of the Ford F-150, which some witnesses thought was
white, but was actually grey or silver.
Dyanna Almeida, who was with the group at the memorial,
testified she saw the Ford F-150 truck with front end damage
that was parked at the Liar's Club. She said she saw the driver
walk into the club and she inspected the front end with her
husband while others called sheriff's deputies.
Sgt. Joe Sprecco testified he talked with Weber before
he was arrested at the Liar's Club. When Weber was asked about
the damage to his truck, "he said he hit a mailbox," said
Sprecco. When asked if he had driven in the area before, "he
said he'd never driven through Alpine."
"He had a strong odor of alcohol. He was unsteady on
his feet," said Sprecco. "He had difficulty understanding
(questions). His eyes appeared somewhat bloodshot."
Edwards testified that Weber said he did remember
driving to Campo in the late afternoon on Dec. 2, but didn't
recall how he got there.
Weber remains in the George Bailey Detention Facility
on $1 million bail.
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