Peninsula Soccer Match Brawl Ends With Man Ramming Car Into Foe: Prosecutors

REDWOOD CITY, CA — A 25-year-old man pleaded no contest to assault and child endangerment charges this week in connection with an intentional crash in which he struck a man after the two fought during a soccer match in Daly City last year, prosecutors said.

Daly City resident Sergio Merino pleaded no contest to felony assault with an enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury and felony child endangerment, San Mateo District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

Merino faces a state prison sentence of up to six years for the incident on Dec. 3, 2015, according to Wagstaffe.

Merino and the victim, a 44-year-old man, were playing in a soccer match at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 1399 Brunswick St., prosecutors said.

During the match, the two had gotten into an argument that turned physical. Both men were separated and neither was injured, according to the district attorney's office.

Minutes later after the match ended, Merino got into his Toyota truck, which was parked in the church's parking lot. Inside the truck, Merino was carrying a 4-year-old child, prosecutors said.

When Merino spotted the victim walking across the parking lot, he accelerated his truck and struck the victim. The victim tried to jump out of the way, but was sent flying into the air. The victim suffered a laceration to his head, which required at least seven staples, prosecutors said.

Merino then fled the scene and attempted to conceal his identity by deleting his Facebook profile the next day, but was eventually arrested.

He's scheduled to return to court for sentencing on Oct. 25, according to Wagstaffe.

— By Bay City News Service / Image via Shutterstock.