Temecula Toddler, Grandma Killed by Suspected Drugged Driver on I-15: CHP

TEMECULA, CA — A toddler and her grandmother from Temecula were killed by a suspected DUI driver early Saturday morning on Interstate 15 in Mira Mesa, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's office revealed over the weekend.

Lina Pelembergo Nebrida, 64, and Keira Magat, 2, both of Temecula, were in a sedan that broke down at 1:50 a.m. and stalled in southbound traffic lanes approaching Scripps Poway Parkway in Mira Mesa. They were in the process of moving to a new residence in Chula Vista, the medical examiner's office reported.

Nebrida, Magat and Magat's 5-year-old sister were riding in the backseat of a Honda sedan, while the girls' mother was driving south on the freeway. Her name was not released, but CHP officers said she called 911 for help from the disabled car.

It was rear-ended by a Cadillac CTS being driven by Grant Thoren, 31, of Vista, who left the crash scene, according to the CHP.

It was hit again from behind by a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck before help could arrive, according to the medical examiner.

The Honda driver and her 5-year-old daughter, also from Temecula, were taken to Sharp Memorial and Rady Children's Hospitals, respectively, with major injuries, according to CHP Officer Mary Bailey.

A 24-year-old woman from San Diego who was riding in the pickup truck was taken to Sharp Memorial with a complaint of pain. The pickup's driver was not injured, according to Bailey.

Thoren was arrested at his Vista home at about 7:15 a.m. Sunday and booked into the Vista jail on suspicion of two counts of murder, two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter, felony hit-and-run with injury, and two counts of driving under the influence of drugs with injury, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's jail booking website.

Thoren was held without bail on suspicion of several probation violations, including three prior convictions of possession of a controlled substance, petty theft and being under the influence of a controlled substance.

He was scheduled to be arraigned in Vista Superior Court on Tuesday, according to the jail site.

The wreckage, which was deemed a crime scene by the CHP, caused a SigAlert in the area for hours. Southbound traffic was diverted into the HOV lanes, Bailey said.

Funeral plans for Keira and her grandmother are pending. Friends of the family are working to raise $10,000 via a GoFundMe page to help with the survivors' medical expenses and other financial needs.

– By City News Service / Images via GoFundMe used with permission.