OCEANSIDE, Calif. (KGTV) --The man accused of crashing into a car in Oceanside while under the influence, killing three people and injuring three others appeared in court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing.
Mason Fish is accused of driving under the influence during the February 5 crash. Oceanside Police say he ran a red light on South Coast Highway at Oceanside Boulevard and crashed his Toyota Tacoma into a Mazda, killing three woman and injuring three others.
Petra Arango, 40, of Oceanside; Rufina Rodriguez, 74, of Fallbrook; and 56-year-old Eloina Arango, of Mexico, were identified as the victims.
A 13-year-old girl, who neighbors and friends call Kelly, was ejected from the vehicle and seriously injured. Aquilino Arango Ojeda, 82, of Fallbrook; and 43-year-old Rey David Velasco Herrera, of Oceanside, were in the front seats of the vehicle and also seriously injured. Arango Ojeda and the young girl have since been released from the hospital.
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Fish's defense attorney claimed he just found out his grandmother died and was driving to the beach to clear his head, before going to class at a local community college.
Meanwhile, the deputy district attorney said Thursday that investigators found cocaine in Fish's wallet.
DMV records showed Fish's driver's license was listed as suspended or revoked on Jan. 26, 2019, and that he had been involved in three prior crashes on Dec. 23, 2017; Jan. 25, 2018; and Sept. 5, 2018.
According to Fish's defense attorney, Fish was unaware his license was suspended. He added, in regards to the crashes, that Fish "tapped" a car at a red light and was sideswiped.
The judge Tuesday found that there is sufficient evidence to send the case to trial. He is due back in court August 20.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call Oceanside Police at 760-435-4431.
A GoFundMe has also been set up to help the family with funeral and medical expenses here.
