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10News Obtains 911 Recordings In Rancho Santa Fe Crash

POSTED: 7:56 pm PDT October 26, 2009
UPDATED: 9:52 pm PDT October 26, 2009

911 recordings obtained by 10News revealed fear and confusion in the moments following a crash that killed a Torrey Pines High School student.

Alex Capozza, 17, died in the single-car crash that also injured his friend, 17-year-old Jamie Arnold. The driver, Branden Butler, was determined to be under the influence of alcohol, authorities said.

*Listen to the 911 call:

In the first of 2 calls to 911 dispatchers, it took the dispatcher a full five minutes before the location of the crash was established.

Dispatcher: "Can you see an address where you're at sir?"

Caller 1: "I can't see an address. I'm next to the golf course, I think? There's another car coming here. I don't know the name of the road. Trying to get you a name of the road. It's the road between Encinitas. We are trying to get the name off the side."

Within minutes of the first call, a second call is made with more confusion and frustration.

Caller 2: "Please, ma'am, hurry please. This kid's gonna die, he's like 15 years old.

The second caller is heard saying, "Are you OK, man? Hey, dude. Dude, are you OK?"

The occupants were on there way to get food after spending time at a party at a multi-million dollar home in Rancho Santa Fe.

10News spoke with the boy who made the second 911 call a day after the crash. Patrick Frantz recalled the driver's demeanor and said, "He tried to ask me to take responsibility for his driving. He asked me if I'd say when the cops came if I drove his car."

Butler's lawyer is working on a deal where he would face three years of probation if he admits to the charges. After that, his slate would be wiped clean.

In the recordings, the dispatcher does not provide any medical advice to help the injured occupants. 10News asked dispatchers about this and some said when there are multiple injuries at a scene that is chaotic and confusing, there is the possibility advice could do more harm than good.

10News learned charges could be filed against the owner of the home where the teens were partying prior to the crash.

Alcohol Beverage Control is looking into where the alcohol came from and is interviewing all who were involved that night.

A sergeant with the case said, "If we bring this investigation to what we consider most optimum, charges would be filed. We are hopeful."

There is no word how long the investigation is expected to last.
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