Sofio Torres, Mateo Salvador Killed after Struck by SUV on Mission Avenue [Escondido, CA]

Police Identify Two Men Killed by SUV Driven by 13-Year-Old Girl in Escondido

 
ESCONDIDO, CA (February 23, 2021) – Police identified the two men who died when a 13-year-old girl took her mom’s car and struck them in Escondido.
 
The fatal accident happened around 11:15 p.m., February 12, near Mission Avenue and Ash Street.
 
According to the Escondido Police Department, an officer tried to stop a Ford Explorer for a traffic violation. Police did not know at the time that the 13-year-old took the SUV from Vista without her mother’s permission.
 
The officer approached the SUV during the stop, but the teen driver and her juvenile passenger took off.
 
The teen then attempted to make a left turn from Mission to Ash when she lost control of the SUV. The vehicle drifted off the side and struck the two men, who were sleeping in the bushes.
 
Both men suffered major injuries. One of them died at the scene, while the other died at the hospital.
 
Police later identified the victims as 33-year-old Mateo Salvador and 51-year-old Sofio Sotelo Torres.
 
Investigators are working with the Juvenile Branch of the District Attorney’s Office on potential criminal charges.
 
Anyone with information about the crash is encouraged to contact Officer Adan Martinez at 760-839-4465 or 760-743-8477.

We would like to extend our condolences to the families of Sofio Torres and Mateo Salvador.

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