Father charged with felonies in daughter's death

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for February 16, 2011, for Fallbrook resident Rudy Alfred Fritz. Fritz has been charged with murder, gross vehicle manslaughter while intoxicated, and two counts of driving under the influence relating to the head-on vehicle accident he was involved in September 25 in Bonsall that resulted in the death of his 12-year-old daughter, Kelley Fritz, of Hemet.

“[Fritz] is being charged with a total of four felony counts,” said Steve Walker, spokesman for the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.

It was reported that Fritz, 45, lost control of his 1956 Volkswagen Beetle while driving westbound on State Route 76 near East Vista Way (area of the Bonsall bridge) at approximately 9 p.m. on September 25. Officers at the scene said he crossed a set of double yellow lines to collide head on with a 2001 Buick Regal. Early law enforcement reports suggested Fritz was driving under the influence of a controlled substance at the time, perhaps even a prescription medication.

Both Fritz and his daughter were ejected onto the roadway, as the vintage car was not equipped with seatbelts. Owners of vehicles that predate safety-restraint laws are not legally required to retrofit them with equipment, officers noted at the time.

The twelve-year-old was killed at the scene of the crash, and Fritz was transported with serious injuries by helicopter to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla. Fritz was placed under arrest while in the hospital.

Fritz was arraigned on the charges relating to the accident while still hospitalized.

“He was arraigned October 22 in the hospital,” said Walker, explaining that a judge went to the hospital accompanied by a court reporter and the arraignment was conducted with the prosecutor and the public defender present.

“[Fritz] pled not guilty to the charges,” said Walker.

Now out of the hospital, Fritz is being held at San Diego Central Jail with bail set at over $2 million.

Fritz’s daughter resided with her mother in Hemet, and was spending the weekend with her father when the crash occurred.

The occupants of the other vehicle, a 64-year-old man and his 53-year-old female passenger, were taken to Palomar Medical Center in Escondido for complaints of pain. No further information has been available concerning their condition.

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