A well-liked Pasadena City College professor who taught English as a second language has been identified by coroners officials as the jogger who was killed by a car allegedly involved in an illegal street race in San Marino on Thursday, July 4.
Gabriel Crispo was struck about 10:35 a.m. by an out-of-control white Mercedes on the grassy median of Huntington Drive near Kenilworth Avenue as he jogged with his dog, which was also killed, and his girlfriend, San Marino police Detective Vince Wilson said.
“This was not an accident but the result of two juveniles entering our city, racing each other resulting in the death of an innocent man,” San Marino Mayor Steven Huang told City News Service.
“Two vehicles were seen traveling at a high rate of speed westbound on Huntington Drive approaching Kenilworth Avenue,” Wilson said. “Witnesses stated the two vehicles appeared to be racing. The two vehicles collided, causing one of them to lose control, striking the pedestrian and his dog in the center median.”
Sgt. Robert Matthews of the San Marino Police Department told KNBC-TV that two 17-year-old boys who were allegedly involved in the street race were taken into custody on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter.
“This is a day where we normally celebrate the birth of our nation, a day we celebrate with family, friends and our community,” Huang said. “But instead three families now mourn the loss of an innocent man and the changed lives of two juveniles who now must live with this tragedy for the rest of their lives.”
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, Wilson said.
The San Marino Tribune reported that Crispo was also a former Spanish teacher at Daniel Murphy High and St. Francis High Schools.
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