Miramar Air Station Marine Dies After Car Accident

1. A Miramar Air Station Marine injured in a car wreck in Scripps Ranch on Tuesday died at a hospital on Friday, it was reported Saturday.

Sgt. Victor J. Cervantes of San Diego was driving a east on Pomerado Road about 1:45 a.m. Tuesday when he crashed into a light pole at Avenida Magnifica, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Police have not said what caused him to lose control of the car.

Cervantes, who joined the Marines in 2003, was an aircraft rescue and firefighting specialist with headquarters and headquarters squadron, according to a Marine Corps spokesman. He had been awarded several medals, a combat action ribbon and two sea service deployment ribbons.

2. A nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and its air wing will return to San Diego Saturday after a six-month deployment in the Western Pacific and Middle East.

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group's helicopter sea combat squadrons will return to Naval Air Station North Island at 7:30 a.m. in advance of the ship.

The Lincoln will arrive at the station's Pier K at 11 a.m., according to the Navy's public affairs office.

The strike group successfully flew more than 8,300 sorties and completed more than 23,500 flying hours, about half of which were in support of U.S. and coalition ground forces in Afghanistan, Navy officials said.

3. A man who helped coordinate criminal activities between the Mexican Mafia and the Arellano-Felix Organization, distributing drugs and engaging in acts of violence with associates, was sentenced Friday to nearly 12 years in federal prison.

Alberto Violante, 24, pleaded guilty last September to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

City News Service contributed to this report.