An April 18 trial has been set for the alleged drunk driver who killed Oscar Melero, a longtime well known hair stylist in Hillcrest. The driver is charged with second-degree murder and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
Melero, 52, was on his way to the California 10/20 run at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on Interstate 5 around 7 a.m. Feb. 15, 2015 when a Toyota Camry driven by Abraham Granados Beltran, 25, slammed into Melero’s BMW at a high speed.
Deputy District Attorney Cally Bright said Beltran had been partying the night before and got no sleep before attempting to drive to his home at San Juan Capistrano. Beltran had his driver’s license suspended in 2013 after two arrests for drunk driving in 2012 and 2011.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Charles Rogers will be the trial judge and he conducted the preliminary hearing. Bright showed him the court documents about the previous drunk driving offenses, and Rogers noted that Beltran signed documents that said he could be charged with murder if he killed someone the next time he was driving under the influence of alcohol.
Melero, of National City, died from trauma to his head and upper body. A San Diego Superior Court judge removed himself from presiding over any hearing involving Beltran because he knew Melero. The hairdresser had a domestic partner and many friends.
“He was very much beloved,” said Bright.
Bright estimated that Beltran may have consumed 5-6 alcoholic drinks based on his blood/alcohol level of .09 that was taken by the sheriff’s deputies sometime after the crash. Bright said Beltran’s blood/alcohol level was estimated to be .11 to .13 at the time of the crash.
California Highway Patrol Officer Scott Parent testified the impact speed between the two vehicles was estimated at 81-89 mph. Parent said the Toyota rotated 180 degrees on the highway and the BMW came to rest in the number five lane.
It will be up to a jury to decide whether Beltran committed second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter, or not guilty. If Beltran is convicted of murder, he could be locked away for most of his life. If the jury acquits him of murder and convicts him of manslaughter, he could get at least 10 years in prison.
Beltran is also accused of injuring another person in another car. Bright said Beltran injured another person in the prior DUI case and had been ordered to pay $23,935 in damages to one victim.
Beltran remains in jail on $750,000 bail. He has pleaded not guilty.
