A judge set bail at $1 million for the driver of a speeding car which crashed in Paradise Hills on Sept. 23, killing Johvana Lavoile, an 18-year-old passenger.
The attorney for Edward Douglas Jones, 19, asked San Diego Superior Court Judge Peter Deddeh to release him on his own recognizance with supervision but the prosecutor objected. Deddeh left the bail at $1 million on Oct. 6.
Jones has pleaded not guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter and hit and run in a traffic fatality. The latter charge refers to Jones fleeing the scene and hiding in brush. San Diego Police officers found him about 30 minutes after the crash and arrested him.
Deputy District Attorney Laura Evans said Tuesday the case is still under investigation as far as possibly adding other charges. She said two other passengers in the car were hurt.
Jones was driving down Paradise Valley Road around 1:45 a.m. and nearly missed his intended left turn onto Munda Road. He veered off the road and the vehicle went down a ravine. No other vehicles were involved.
The charges also allege that Jones made an unsafe lane charge and violated the basic speed law of driving a vehicle in a safe manner.
The county medical examiner’s office said Lavoile was rushed to a hospital where she died from blunt force trauma of the torso. Lavoile was found outside the vehicle, according to the medical examiner.
Her funeral was held October 13 in San Diego.
A preliminary hearing was set for Nov. 20, though Evans said the date may change. Jones remains in the George Bailey Detention Facility.
