Authorities Search for Two Good Samaritans in Deadly Wrong Way Crash on SR-52

Two good Samaritans who came to the aid of young woman in a pickup truck after a wrong-way, head-on crash that killed the other driver on Highway 52 in Santee have been asked to come forward to help with the investigation.

The fatal crash on eastbound Highway 52, east of Mast Boulevard, occurred just before 1 a.m. Dec. 29, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Jake Sanchez.

Witnesses reported that two men not involved in the accident stopped to help the driver of a white Chevy 2500HD that had just struck a tan 1970s-era Volkswagen Beetle, Sanchez said. The men left without speaking with authorities.

The driver of the Beetle, Jayme Alan Midlam, 25, died at the scene, and the driver of the Chevy -- 23-year-old April Carole Thompson of National City -- was later arrested in the hospital on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Thompson suffered moderate injuries in the crash. On Tuesday, a judge found there was sufficient evidence to order her to stand trial on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence and driving the wrong way on a highway resulting in death.

She faces up to 10 years in state prison if convicted.

The CHP asked the men or anyone else with information about the crash to come forward by calling Officer Brad Clinkscales at (619) 220-5492.

-City News Service