MORGAN HILL
– An auto accident on Monterey Road just north of Peebles Avenue
claimed the life of Rosalie Pena, 50, a member of the Sinaloa
Restaurant Pena family Wednesday.
MORGAN HILL – An auto accident on Monterey Road just north of Peebles Avenue claimed the life of Rosalie Pena, 50, a member of the Sinaloa Restaurant Pena family Wednesday.
The accident occurred at 5:11 p.m. when Charles Spear, 37, of Morgan Hill, was traveling southbound in a GMC Yukon and hit Pena’s Volvo S70 sedan from behind, according to the Morgan Hill Police Department. Pena’s car was parked on the side of the road.
Force of the collision forced Pena’s auto into the back of a parked commercial trailer.
Pena was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel. Spear was taken by helicopter to San Jose Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition this morning.
Before the accident, calls came into the California Highway Patrol reporting that Spear was driving erratically and recklessly. He was arrested on a charge of felony vehicular manslaughter,
Myers said Spear’s injuries may be life threatening.
Police are awaiting test results to determine if drugs or alcohol were an issue in the accident.
“The incident is still under investigation,” Myers said.
Funeral arrangements are pending at Johnson’s Funeral Home.
In June 2002 the restaurant the Pena family had owned and run for 40 years at Monterey Road and Peebles Avenue burned to the ground. The fire was followed by a huge outpouring of sympathy for the family as customers far and wide recognized the loss of an institution.
Rosalie Pena’s brother, Steve, has been trying to rebuild the restaurant but has run into difficulties with financing and construction details.
