Teen Suspected Of DUI Kills Temecula Tow Truck Driver In I-15 Crash: CHP

TEMECULA, CA — A Temecula 19-year-old woman is accused of driving drunk, slamming into a stalled vehicle on Interstate 15 and killing a man who was assisting at the scene, California Highway Patrol officials say. The woman, who posted $75,000 bail, was booked into the French Valley jail on suspicion of DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, records show.

The crash occurred at 11:35 p.m. Friday on the southbound Interstate 15 Temecula Parkway off-ramp, CHP Officer Mike Lassig said. It happened as a tow truck driver was assisting a disabled motorist, who called AAA for help.

"The tow truck arrived on scene and was parked in front of the disabled vehicle approximately five feet west of the solid white line separating the traffic lane from the right shoulder," Lassig said.

Meanwhile, Danika L. McGetrick was driving a 2016 Kia Optima on the highway nearby, according to Lassig.

"As the tow driver, now a pedestrian, was standing to the left rear of his vehicle, [she] drove onto the right shoulder, side-swiped the disabled vehicle, struck the tow driver and then struck the left rear of the tow truck," Lassig said.

As a result, the tow truck driver was thrown onto the rear deck of the tow truck and sustained serious injuries. He was taken to Inland Valley Hospital where he was pronounced dead around 12:40 a.m. Saturday, according to coroner's officials.

Riverside County coroner's officials on Monday identified him as 28-year-old Kyle Crull of Wildomar.

McGetrick was arrested at the scene and posted bail the same day of her arrest, according to jail logs.

The driver and passenger of the disabled vehicle were outside of the vehicle when the crash happened, but were not injured, Lassig said.

Crull was an employee of Temecula-based DJ's Towing Company, according to the CHP.

A GoFundMe page was set up in memory of Crull "to help support some of the upcoming and future costs" for his family, including a young daughter, according to the fundraising site.

"Kyle loved his daughter and talked about her constantly," the GoFundMe campaign organizer Michale Lutz said. "She was everything to him and we need to make sure she is taken care of."

As of Monday evening, approximately $5,300 had been raised. Click here if you would like to donate.

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Jail booking photo of Danika Lee McGetrick via the Riverside County Sheriff's Department; Photo of Kyle Crull via GoFundMe