Local Briefs

A mother from Merced was killed on Highway 101 in San Francisco Friday afternoon when a tire flew through her windshield, the California Highway Patrol reported.

CHP Officer Shawn Chase said the woman, 36-year-old Felecia Stokes, was driving south on Highway 101 north of Cesar Chavez Street around 12:10 p.m. when a taxi in the northbound lanes lost a tire which sailed over the center divide.

The woman suffered fatal head injuries when the tire smashed through the windshield of her 1994 Ford Explorer. Her 15-year-old daughter was sitting in the front passenger seat and her 8-year-old son was in the back; they were not hurt, Chase said.

As the girl tried to stop the Explorer, it went in reverse and struck a motorcycle at about 20 mph. The motorcyclist was not seriously injured, Chase said. The taxicab driver also escaped unhurt, Chase said. The CHP will be looking into the cab’s maintenance records, he said, but no criminal charges are pending.

Firefighters rescue cat stuck in lampost

A frightened cat was rescued after it was found trapped inside a lamppost in San Carlos Thursday evening, Belmont-San Carlos fire Capt. Gary Fauth reported Friday.

The adorable black cat needed to be rescued after it crawled into a hollow metal post that was lying on the ground at 877 Bransten Road, Fauth said.

Firefighters used a circular saw to cut the post and free the cat, which was then taken by local animal control officers.

Six personnel from both the Belmont-San Carlos Fire Department and animal care and control were on hand to assist with the rescue. The cat appeared to be feral, Fauth said.

Fishermen, Coast Guard prepare for crab season

Commercial crab fishermen are gearing up for the season that begins Nov. 15 from the Russian River south to Morro Bay.

Inspectors from the U.S. Coast Guard will be walking the docks of Northern California ports over the next week to check crab fishing vessels’ safety equipment and make sure the crews load crab pots properly.

Crab fishing is the most deadly of all commercial fishing jobs, and crab vessels have the highest fatality rate of any West Coast fishery, according to the Coast Guard.

In previous inspections, the Coast Guard has noted that almost one third of crab vessels’ life rafts and emergency radio beacons were installed incorrectly. Most problems can be easily corrected, but the Coast Guard also may keep boats with serious safety issues from operating.

The Coast Guard reminds fishermen, "Successful completion of a dockside exam can also make any future Coast Guard boarding at sea greatly abbreviated.”

Man to stand trial for fatal hit-and-run

A San Mateo County judge ruled Thursday that a trial will go forward for a 30-year-old Daly City man charged in connection with a fatal South San Francisco hit-and-run crash on Oct. 13.

After turning himself in to authorities on the night of Oct. 25, Joselitoroy Abao pleaded not guilty on Oct. 26 to one count of felony hit and run, one count of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter and one count of misdemeanor driving on a suspended license, San Mateo County Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

Abao is believed to have been the driver of a car involved in a hit-and-run crash that killed Daniel De Guzman, 41, of Daly City, Wagstaffe said. De Guzman was struck while crossing Callan Boulevard at King Drive at about 9:15 p.m. and died two days later from massive head injuries.

Police reported that witnesses saw the suspect stop briefly at the scene of the accident and smoke a cigarette before driving off on southbound Callan Boulevard.

At Thursday’s preliminary hearing, prosecutors called three witnesses while the defense presented no evidence, Wagstaffe said. Defense motions to dismiss the case and to reduce Abao’s bail were denied. Abao remains in custody in San Mateo County’s main jail in Redwood City in lieu of $500,000 bail and is next scheduled to appear for his superior court arraignment on Nov. 28.

Abao faces up to six years in state prison if convicted, Wagstaffe said.

Bag of food stolen

South City police are on the lookout for two men who stole a married couple’s bag of food Thursday night.

At approximately 9:44 p.m., the couple was walking home from a bus stop at Westborough Boulevard and Gateway Drive when two men approached and one grabbed the bag. The man resisted, but the handle broke and the two ran off with the bag.

The men were described as black, 17-18 years old. One was 6 feet and 170 pounds, the other 5 foot 7 inches and 150 pounds.

Woman nearly robbed

A woman’s lack of English skills may have prevented her from getting robbed on the 1400 block of Crestwood Drive Wednesday evening, according to South San Francisco police.

At approximately 7:53 p.m., the woman was walking home from the bus stop when four men in a cream color sedan approached. The car stopped and two men got out. One pointed a hand gun at her and demanded "Give me the money!” three times. They became frustrated when they realized she didn’t speak English and drove off, police said.

The man with a gun was described as white, in his 20s, 5 feet 7 or 8 inches tall, medium build with no facial hair.

Anyone with information on this incident should call the South San Francisco Police Department at 877-8900.