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71 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, June 8, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Britt Festival Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Biz Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend June 7, 2005 Suspect in fatal crash had DUII conviction Police probe whether Eagle Point teen’s driving led to the death of Talent’s Leah Castillo By MARK FREEMAN Mail Tribune ASHLAND — An Eagle Point teenager had a drunken driving conviction and was enrolled in an alcohol diversion program when his speeding sports utility vehicle slammed head-on into a sedan Friday night, killing the sedan’s driver as she headed to an all-night graduation party. Now, Ashland police say they are investigating whether 19-year-old Jonathan Guevarra used alcohol before triggering the 10:11 p.m. crash that killed 18-year-old Leah Castillo of Talent less than an hour after she graduated from Ashland High School. Armed with a warrant, Ashland police detectives searched the impounded Chevrolet Blazer in which Guevarra was allegedly road-racing just moments before the crash on North Main Street near Maple Street, police said. Beer cans were found outside of the wrecked Blazer on Friday, Ashland police Sgt. Teresa Selby said. In Monday’s search, detectives were looking at whether signs of illegal drugs or alcohol were present in the vehicle and whether the SUV — which was registered to Guevarra’s family members — had any mechanical problems, Selby said. "We’re looking at anything that could have contributed to the crash," said Selby, who declined to reveal the fruits of the search. Advertisement Castillo was pronounced dead at the scene. Guevarra suffered a broken ankle in the crash and was taken to Rogue Valley Medical Center, where he remained Monday listed in fair condition, a hospital spokesperson said. He was without a police guard at the hospital, Selby said. She declined to reveal the results of any blood-alcohol tests on Guevarra. Detectives today will continue trying to piece together Guevarra’s activities and whereabouts in the hours before the crash, Selby said. Police also want to talk to the driver of a black Honda Prelude that an Ashland police officer saw racing with Guevarra’s Blazer on North Main Street moments before the crash. The officer gave pursuit and the Prelude stopped briefly while Guevarra’s Blazer sped north on North Main Street. The northbound Blazer darted into the southbound lanes, where it collided with Castillo’s Nissan Sentra, police said. The Prelude sped away as the officer responded to the accident, police said. The driver had not identified himself to police as of Monday, Selby said. "We’re hoping someone comes forward with some information about it," Selby said. The Prelude’s Oregon license plate is similar to UDT-783, Selby said. Driver and Motor Vehicle Services records show that the plate is registered to a 1995 Buick in Troutdale, DMV spokesman David House said. Guevarra twice declined to discuss the wreck during attempted interviews the night of the crash and Saturday, Selby said. Guevarra was driving an unlicensed 1986 Ford Bronco and was without valid insurance last Sept. 25 when an Oregon State Police trooper pulled over the Bronco at 1:45 p.m. while on Crater Lake Highway near Coker Butte Road, OSP records show. Guevarra failed a field-sobriety test before he was taken to a detoxification center and the Bronco was towed, OSP records show. Three unidentified occupants were cited for being minors in possession of alcohol, records show. Records show his blood-alcohol level was .07 percent, less than the .08 percent threshold for adults. However, minors who register any blood-alcohol level are considered in violation of Oregon’s DUII laws. Court records show Guevarra pleaded guilty to DUII at his Oct. 22 arraignment and he was sentenced to a one-year diversion program. Guevarra was not jailed at the time, records show. As part of his diversion program, Guevarra attended a mandatory victim-impact panel in November, court records show. During the panel, surviving victims of fatal drunken driving incidents tell program members how their ordeals have affected their lives. House said Guevarra’s license was suspended upon his conviction, and his license was reinstated Jan. 24. Guevarra also has a June 21 conviction for third-degree theft, records show. The Friday night crash scene on the 900 block of North Main Street remained littered with broken glass. A makeshift memorial to Castillo was present Monday at the scene. White irises and roses ringed a yellow fire hydrant, to which someone attached a blue-and-silver mylar balloon with "Class of 2005" written on it. Anyone with information about the crash was urged to telephone Detective Brent Jensen or officer Steve MacLennan at 482-5211. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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