Daily Dose: Friday Comes Again

Events

SR-52 Crash in Court

An 18-year-old who was allegedly racing a friend when the 16-year-old boy crashed his car on state Route 52, killing two passengers, must stand trial on felony charges, including vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, a .

Michael Sebastian Johnson, a graduate of Santana High School, faces 15 years in state prison if convicted of two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and one count each of engaging in a speed contest resulting in injuries and reckless driving, along with possession of marijuana while driving, an infraction.

Crowe Case

The attorney for a man who was wrongfully accused of killing his 12-year-old sister began presenting testimony Thursday that he hopes will convince a judge to formally declare his client's innocence.

Michael Crowe was 14 when he was arrested and charged with the stabbing death of his sister, Stephanie, at the family home in Escondido on Jan. 20, 1998. His friends, Joshua Treadway and Aaron Houser, then both 15, were also charged in the killing. Treadway has joined in the motion for a finding of factual innocence.

Marine Casualty

Gov. Jerry Brown and his wife offered condolences Thursday to the family and friends of a 30-year-old Camp Pendleton-based Marine killed in combat in Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Joseph H. Frankhauser of Mason, Texas, died in Helmand Province on Sunday, according to the Department of Defense.

MTS

Ridership on Metropolitan Transit System buses and trolleys in March set a record for the month. Transit officials say the record-breaking month is partially due to high gas prices and increased employment. Nearly 7.8 million trips were taken last month, up 1.2 percent over the same period in 2011.

Gas Prices

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County decreased Friday for the 28th time in 30 days, falling nine-tenths of a cent to $4.188, its lowest amount since Feb. 23.

The average price is 3.2 cents less than one week ago, 15.1 cents lower than one month ago and 2.8 cents below what it was one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

The average price decreased for 19 consecutive days, rose one-tenth of a cent April 17, dropped each of the next six days and rose one-tenth of a cent on Tuesday. It has fallen 15.4 cents over the past 30 days, including three- tenths of a cent on Thursday.

-City News Service contributed these posts

Yesterday's stories of note