Jury selection begins today in trial of man accused of killing U.S. Navy corpsman in crash

MURRIETA - Jury selection began today for the trial of an ex-con accused of killing a U.S. Navy corpsman and his family in a crash near Temecula.

Chad Isaac Huber, 33, could face 50 years to life in prison if convicted of three counts of second-degree murder and felony hit-and-run in the June 29, 2008, deaths of Andres Cruz Sanagustin, 48, his 36-year-old wife, Maribeth, and their 4-year-old son, Angelo.

Huber, who is a potential third-striker, is being held without bail at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Huber was driving his GMC pickup truck in excess of 100 mph when he crossed into oncoming traffic on Warren Road and smashed into the driver's-side of Sanagustin's Chevy Malibu.

The Camp Pendleton-based serviceman and his wife died at the scene, while their son survived long enough to reach a nearby hospital before he, too, was pronounced dead.

The nighttime collision occurred within an hour of Huber and a friend, Jarred Benjamin Abatti, 25, leaving a Temecula bar, according to the CHP.

The pair did several shots and drank an unknown quantity of beer before hitting the road, court papers state.

Huber and Abatti were en route to the defendant's Temecula apartment when the crash happened.

Abatti was following Huber in his pickup, according to CHP investigators.

Witnesses reported that the two trucks were darting in and out of southbound traffic and going around slower vehicles by crossing into opposing lanes. Sanagustin's Malibu was struck head-on, with the driver's side of the sedan crushed inward.

Abatti later admitted that he knew his friend was drunk, according to court documents.

After Huber plowed into the victim's car, he jumped out of his damaged pickup and got into Abatti's, and the two drove to a San Diego motel, the prosecution alleges.

Abatti pleaded guilty in October 2008 to felony hit-and-run and being an accessory to a crime and was sentenced to five years probation.

Huber allegedly reported that his pickup had been stolen by his ex-wife and fled to Mexico, where he was captured months later.

He was previously convicted of battery and assault on a peace officer.