Teen to trial for Tongan royal deaths

Edith Delgado, of Redwood City, never specifically said she raced cars or participated in the car-centric gatherings, conceded Inspector Ivan Grosshauser.

After a day of testimony, including Grosshauser’s, Judge Robert Foiles ordered Delgado to stand trial on three counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. Prosecutor Aaron Fitzgerald dropped a multiple victim allegation originally charged.

Grosshauser’s testimony was peppered with objections from defense attorney Randy Moore who was simultaneously trying to get much of it suppressed. Ultimately, Delgado’s second interview with the California Highway Patrol was stricken.

If convicted, Delgado faces eight years in prison on charges stemming from the July 5 crash in Menlo Park that killed Prince Tu’ipelehake, 55, his wife, Princess Kaimana, 45, and the couple’s driver, Vinisia Hefa, 36, of East Palo Alto. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

The victims, with Hefa driving, were driving on northbound Highway 101 near Marsh Road in Menlo Park when Delgado allegedly tried passing. She was allegedly traveling with Nicole Garcia, 18, when her white Ford Mustang hit Hefa’s red Ford Explorer at a disputed rate of speed. Witnesses placed the speed between 90 and 110 mph. The SUV flipped multiple times, killing the three inside.

After the collision, a crying and shaking Delgado mentioned a black Escalade speeding near her vehicle as she merged onto Highway 101 at University Avenue but the vehicle has never been located. The prosecution contends the two vehicles were racing prior to the Delgado striking the Explorer.

Delgado, who earned her driver’s license four months before the accident, was barred from carrying passengers younger than 21 and was required to wear corrective lenses, said California Highway Patrol Officer Eric Pohrman.

Before Delgado even entered the courtroom Wednesday, a galley of friends let out audible gasps as photos of the two damaged vehicles were posted on a wall. Pohrman later detailed the crushed roof of the Explorer, the smashed windshields and paint transfer between the two vehicles after impact.

The crowd similarly murmured in disbelief as Grosshauser testified teachers at Redwood High School recalled Delgado’s alleged comments about driving. English teacher Sharon Holmberg said Delgado missed school one Monday during the 2005-2006 school year because she "spent all weekend in Oakland at a sideshow,” Grosshauser said.

One witness to Delgado’s driving prior to the crash described it as looking "like the CHP running a traffic break,” or weaving drastically across lanes, Pohrman said.

Witness Craig Cook admitted being unable to tell if Delgado and the black Escalade were in a speed contest, but said the two vehicles were traveling fast. Cook broke into tears recalling how the Explorer flipped three times, with smoke rising from its back end. After pulling to the side of the highway, Cook said Delgado and Garcia seemed calm and collected.

"She said, you saw them chasing us right?” Cook recalled Delgado saying about the Escalade.

He replied, "You should be praying for those people. You caused them to flip over” but said she had no response.

While a number of local Tongan residents appeared at previous hearing, only a handful wearing T-shirts in memory of Hefa attended Tuesday’s appearance. The community recently sustained another royal loss, the prince’s uncle, the king of Tonga.

Delgado remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail. At a hearing last week to reduce bail from $3 million to $1 million, Moore indicated he may appeal the amount again but has not filed any motions yet with the appellate court.

Delgado returns to court Oct. 5 to enter a plea in Superior Court and set a jury trial date.

Michelle Durand can be reached by e-mail: michelle@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 102. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.<