More Charges Due in Oceanside Crash

Oceanside police Tuesday said they will recommend that felony manslaughter charges be filed today against a 28-year-old man who they say drove his truck into another vehicle Monday, fatally injuring one of his children.

Thomas Young of Oceanside was cited for driving under the influence of alcohol Monday night, and police alleged that he was responsible for the head-on collision on Mission Avenue. Five people, including three small children who were traveling in the other vehicle, suffered minor injuries, Sgt. Bill Krunglevich said.

Oceanside accident investigator Phil Tate said felony charges will be filed against Young after his 2-year-old son, Thomas, a passenger in his father’s truck, died Tuesday of head injuries.

Tate said police will ask that charges of felony drunk driving, child endangerment and failure to put seat belts on his children be filed against Young.

Young’s 5-year-old son, Paul, was being treated for scrapes and was reported in good condition at Children’s Hospital, spokeswoman Terry Merryman said.

Krunglevich said Young was traveling west about 5:30 p.m. with his two children on Mission Avenue east of North Santa Fe Avenue when his pickup crossed the center line and collided with an eastbound car driven by Jaqueline Sparks, 29, of Oceanside.

Sparks’ vehicle, which was carrying her husband and their three small children, went down an embankment and into a shallow creek, Krunglevich said.

Firefighters pulled the five out of the vehicle. They were taken to Tri-City Medical Center, where they were treated for cuts and bruises and released, the sergeant said.