Spring Valley Woman Injured in Crash that Killed Suspected DUI Driver

A 30-year-old Santee man suspected of drunken driving drove the wrong way on state Route 52 and caused a head-on crash, killing himself and sending four people in the other vehicle to the hospital with major injuries, authorities said Monday.   

Matthew T. Leonardo drove a 2012 Ford Focus west in eastbound lanes and crashed head-on into a 2001 Dodge Caravan driven by a 45-year-old Spring Valley woman about 9:10 p.m. Sunday, according to the California Highway Patrol and the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office. The crash occurred just east of Santo Road in the Tierrasanta area of San Diego.

Leonardo died at the scene and "had the distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage about him," CHP Officer Tommy Doerr said, adding that toxicology tests would be done to determine if Leonardo was too drunk to drive.

Medics took the woman, along with three juveniles in her minivan, to area hospitals – all with major injuries, he said.

Both vehicles were traveling 65-70 mph when they collided, he said.

–City News Service