The pre-trail hearing for Kenneth Blow, Jr., related to the murder charge filed in conjunction with a June 22, 2012, fatal accident on Highway 330, has been postponed to allow for additional investigation. (File Photo)
By G.T. Houts
UPDATE – Tuesday, February 18 – 11:10 a.m.
San Bernardino, CA – Second degree murder suspect — Kenneth Jerome Blow, Jr. — who was involved in a DUI fatality on Highway 330 appeared in court briefly February 18 for a pre-trail hearing. However, Judge William Jefferson Powell granted a delay because “further investigation was needed” in the case.
Judge Powell then set a disposition/reset hearing for 8:30 a.m. in Department S-26 on February 28.
Blow remains in custody at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on $1.2 million bail.
ORIGINAL STORY
San Bernardino, CA - The second degree murder suspect, involved in a DUI fatality on Highway 330, returns to court for a pre-trail hearing on Tuesday, February 18. Kenneth Jerome Blow, Jr., will appear in Department S-26 at 8:30 a.m.
Rebecca Leigh Green (Contributed Photo)
Blow, now 26, was driving a 2002 Ford Focus southbound on Highway 330 on June 22, 2012, when the vehicle rolled over ejecting an 18-year-old female passenger — Rebecca Leigh Green from Lakewood. She was pronounced deceased at the scene of the accident about 6:50 p.m.
Following the crash, Blow was placed under arrest for driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage.
Blow has entered a plea of not guilty to all counts and has defendant denied special allegations. He remains in custody at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on $1.2 million bail.
THE INCIDENT
CHP investigators indicated Blow was traveling southbound on Highway 330, south of Highway 18, at the time of the crash. Blow was reportedly unable to maintain control of the Ford Focus and allowed the car to drift off the roadway.
A CHP release indicates Blow then veered out of control, across the southbound and northbound lanes, where his vehicle impacted and traveled up the mountainside. The impact caused the vehicle to overturn and eject the 18-year-old woman who was pronounced deceased at the scene by Running Springs Fire paramedics. Blow was partially ejected from the vehicle during the incident.
Two additional passengers in the vehicle — Tony Willevy, 22, and Robert Mathews, 24, both from Bellflower — were treated and released at Loma Linda University Medical Center.
CHP INVESTIGATION
Through additional investigation, the California Highway Patrol determined that Blow was involved in a prior fatal collision, in 2009, and was convicted at the time of felony DUI. During Blow’s sentencing he was read the “Watson Amendment,” stating he could be tried for second degree murder should he repeat the offense, according to a CHP news release.
LIST OF CHARGES
Blow is facing the following felony charges:
* Penal Code 187 (a) – Murder
* Penal Code 191.5 – Gross Vehicular Manslaughter While Intoxicated
* Vehicle Code 23153 (a) – DUI Causing Bodily Injury
* Vehicle Code 23153 (b) – DUI Causing Bodily Injury
* Vehicle Code 10851 (a) – Vehicle Theft
A single misdemeanor charge of driving while license was suspended for driving under the influence was also filed (Vehicle Code M14601.2(A).
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