Four Arrested at North County Checkpoint

Escondido checkpoint

Escondido police arrested four suspected drunken drivers during a checkpoint operation and subsequent patrol that wrapped up early Saturday.

More than 1,800 vehicles passed through the checkpoint that was held from 6 p.m. Friday to midnight in the vicinity of Valley Parkway and Juniper Street and officers then patrolled until 3 a.m., according to Escondido police Lt. Tom Albergo.

Officers made four suspected drunken driving arrests and found six drivers with no insurance, Albergo said.

Police officers impounded eight vehicles, four because the driver was arrested and four whose driver had a suspended or revoked license, Albergo said.

Educational material was distributed with information on traffic safety improvements and officers correctly reinstalled four child safety seats, Albergo said.

The operation was funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Safety Administration.

CHP seeks info on crash

One man is dead, and California Highway Patrol officers were seeking a second vehicle involved in a crash at the western end of Interstate 8 at Ocean Beach.

The crash was at the merge from Nimitz and Sunset boulevards onto the eastbound Ocean Beach Freeway, and it was reported to the CHP at 4:28 a.m. Sunday. A SigAlert was issued at 4:50 a.m., closing the onramp until about 7:30 a.m., the CHP reported.

Evidence at the scene indicated the suspect vehicle was a 2007 or newer model Toyota Camry, with moderate damage to the front bumper and lens assembly, CHP officials said.

CHP officials said additional evidence at the scene was being analyzed for more specific vehicle identification.

Officers asked anyone with information on the crash to call the CHP Communications Center at (858) 637-3800.

San Diego half-marathon

The inaugural San Diego Half Marathon will be held Sunday, beginning and ending at Petco Park.

The course winds through the Gaslamp Quarter, Harbor Island, Liberty Station, Hillcrest and Balboa Park before returning to the East Village. A festival associated with the race will take place outside the ballpark.

Because runners will be on North Harbor Drive, officials with the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority suggest airline travelers using Lindbergh Field leave earlier than normal.

Race organizers, including the Padres, say proceeds will go toward the Huntington's Disease Society of America, the National Foundation for Autism Research, and Make-a-Wish Foundation of San Diego.

-City News Service