On Aug. 13, a Spring Valley man was ordered to stand trial for murder and gross vehicular manslaughter while under the influence of drugs in the death of a passenger in his girlfriend’s car.
Almost three days of testimony were heard in the preliminary hearing of Rene Ruiz, 28, who is charged in the Sept. 17, 2018 death of Melanie Alexandra Feliciano, 24.
Ruiz was driving a black 1999 Mercedes Benz on state Route 94 at Sweetwater Springs Blvd. in Spring Valley when he hit a guard rail, causing the vehicle to roll over.
Feliciano was sitting on the center console between Ruiz and the car’s owner, Breelara Williams, 23. She was not wearing a seat belt and her cause of death was blunt force trauma of her head and neck, according to the medical examiner’s office.
Ruiz was also ordered to stand trial for hit and run as he fled the scene, as well as possession of heroin and driving on a suspended license.
El Cajon Superior Court Judge Herbert Exarhos ordered Ruiz to appear in court on Aug. 22 to schedule a trial date. Ruiz has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Williams, of La Mesa, testified she only owned the Mercedes for three months and a large stereo system took up the back seat which the victim had been trying to sell.
She testified she was “dating (Ruiz) for a little while” before the crash. The pictures of the wrecked car disturbed Williams and she asked the prosecutor to take it off the screen.
Williams wept as she recounted she had known Feliciano for two years and the circumstances of the crash. She said Ruiz used methamphetamine before the crash.
Williams said she suffered a concussion and other injuries. She was in the hospital several days and wore a neck brace.
“It was a complete accident,” said Williams as she was leaving the witness stand.
“Love you,” said Williams to Ruiz as she left the courtroom.
Stephanie Clapperton, a registered nurse, testified she was driving home to Jamul when she came upon the crash. She said she tried to help the passenger.
“I saw her take her last active breath,” said Clapperton.
Clapperton identified Ruiz as the “disheveled, disoriented” driver at the scene. She described Ruiz as “jittery, nervous” with “a slight stagger to his walk.”
Clapperton said she noticed Ruiz showing an inappropriate demeanor and a lack of concern for his passenger who was critically injured.
Kenneth Hall was the first driver who stopped as he was driving home to Spring Valley from work. He identified Ruiz as the driver whom he said “appeared to be high.”
“From what I saw, there was no attempt” to get the passenger out of the car by the driver, said Hall. He said he thought there driver “would be a bit more serious and wanting to get help” instead of fleeing the scene.
Sean Davis, an ICE officer, said he happened upon the single crash and heard on police radio that two suspects had fled the scene.
Davis said he found Ruiz and a woman in a canyon and held them until California Highway Patrol officers came and arrested them both. Williams was not prosecuted.
Paul Anzalone, a CHP officer, testified he analyzed the heavily damaged Mercedes which had its roof caved in. He said he could not find any mechanical problems that could have caused the crash, but one tire was almost worn out.
Ruiz remains in the George Bailey Detention Facility without bail. He has a 2011 conviction for drunk driving.
The prosecutor said if Ruiz is convicted of second-degree murder and hit and run, he could be sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.
