Jun 16, 2008

Teen arrested in fatal crash

Portola Valley man charged in accident that killed 19-year-old

By Shaun Bishop / Daily News Staff Writer

A 19-year-old Portola Valley resident has been arrested on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated after he crashed a car into a tree last week, killing a teenage passenger, officials said Monday.

Keith Knudsen was arrested Saturday morning in connection with the crash that killed Robert Wetzel, 19, a Woodside High School graduate and a former resident of unincorporated Redwood City.

The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office said Knudsen was driving Wetzel's black BMW and crashed it into a tree on Portola Valley Road at 11:26 p.m. Thursday. Wetzel, who was home for the summer from Sierra College outside Sacramento, was in the passenger seat and died at the scene.

Investigators said evidence at the scene suggests excessive speed and alcohol may have contributed to the crash, but Lt. Marc Alcantara declined to elaborate.

The sheriff's office also recommended Knudsen be charged with committing a felony while out on bail. Knudsen had been awaiting trial on charges of robbery and grand theft in Redwood City.

The San Mateo County District Attorney's Office will decide today whether to formally charge Knudsen with the two crimes, which together carry a potential sentence of 12 years in prison, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

Wagstaffe said the robbery and theft incident occurred Nov. 14, 2007, and included an incidence of financial theft from an elder, though he had no other details about that crime.

Knudsen posted his $15,000 bail for the robbery case, which Wagstaffe said was an unusually low amount, even for someone with no prior offenses. Bail for such crimes is usually set at about $50,000, he said.

Wetzel's official cause of death was blunt force trauma from the crash, Coroner Robert Foucrault said Monday. Toxicology tests will take an additional two to three weeks to complete.

Alcantara said it is department policy not to report the results of scientific tests performed on suspects, including blood tests, and he would not say whether Knudsen had a blood-alcohol level.

Knudsen suffered multiple fractures and other trauma as a result of the crash and was treated at a local hospital prior to his arrest.



E-mail Shaun Bishop at sbishop@dailynewsgroup.com.





Service information

A memorial service celebrating the life of Robert Lewis Wetzel will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Peninsula Covenant Church, 3560 Farm Hill Blvd., Redwood City. A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Redwood Parents Nursery School, 3997 Jefferson Ave., P.O. Box 759, Redwood City, CA 94064.