Authorities ID passenger killed in Corvette crash in Escondido

ESCONDIDO (CNS) - Authorities today publicly identified a passenger who was killed when the driver of a Chevrolet Corvette crashed into a fire hydrant and a tree near an Escondido intersection.

Joseph Lee Spear, 42 of Montana, was riding in the Corvette when the 29-year-old driver lost control of the car while speeding westbound on El Norte Parkway around 7:50 p.m. Monday, according to information from Escondido police and the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office.

The sports car veered off the road west of Fig Street, then struck a fire hydrant and a tree, leaving the car with extensive...