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Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009
District attorney's son set to be arraigned today in death resulting from car crash
Dylan Morse, the 18-year-old son of Merced County District Attorney Larry Morse II, is scheduled to be arraigned on vehicular manslaughter charges today in Sonoma County Superior Court, stemming from a weekend collision in Cotati.
Meanwhile, the father of the victim in the case says he forgives the younger Morse, who is accused of causing the crash.
CHP investigators say Dylan Morse was driving drunk in a 1998 Volvo around 2:20 a.m. Saturday when his car went through a red light at the intersection of Highway 116 and Stony Point Road. His car collided with a 1988 Honda, driven by 22-year-old Alexander Ruiz.
Ruiz, an Oakland resident, received major head trauma injuries from the accident and was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, 25-year-old Vanessa King, received major facial lacerations, a broken arm and a broken collar bone, according to Jonathan Sloat, CHP spokesman. She was released from the hospital Sunday.
Ryne Spitzer, the 19-year-old passenger in Morse's car, received major head trauma. On Tuesday, Sloat described Spitzer's condition as "very critical." He is being cared for in the intensive care unit of Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.
Michael Ruiz, Alexander's father, said he forgives Morse for allegedly causing the collision. He added, however, that Morse will never be "free and happy" unless he accepts accountability for his actions. "I think most of my feelings are of compassion. It's a time of great pain, undoubtedly for (Dylan)," Ruiz said.
Michael Ruiz, 49, described his son as a talented, creative young man who was only a few months away from achieving his bachelor's degree in sound engineering at Ex'pression College for the Digital Arts in Emeryville.
Ruiz, a Calistoga resident, said he and his wife Lydia are feeling tremendous pain and grief. "He was a beautiful boy, who became a wonderful man," Ruiz said, weeping.
Alexander had planned a life in arts, his father said, and he sang in an East Bay rock band called Tear It Down. He also played drums and guitar. "I loved his music. He wrote music that was across many different genres -- it was spectacular," his father remembered.
Alexander's younger brother, Jordan, is also grieving. He was supposed to be celebrating his 18th birthday on Saturday.
Michael Ruiz said he also spoke with Morse's mother, Cindy Morse. "She was very sorry; it was very difficult for her," he said.
Dylan Morse is a student at Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz County, while Spitzer is a pre-business major at Sonoma State University who lives on campus. Morse had been visiting Spitzer in Rohnert Park, and the two were on their way back to Sonoma State when the collision happened, Sloat said.
The victims in the crash, Ruiz and King, were roommates. Ruiz and King had been in Sebastopol, and the pair were driving back to the East Bay when the collision happened, Sloat said.
Morse is being held on suspicion of felony vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI resulting in bodily injury with a blood alcohol level above 0.08 percent, and three counts of causing bodily harm during a felony. He's also being held on suspicion of being a minor operating a vehicle carrying alcohol and possession or use of false identification, which are misdemeanor charges.
Agents from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control are also assisting in the investigation to determine how Dylan Morse obtained the alcohol, according to the CHP.
Dylan Morse remains in the Sonoma County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.
A wake for Ruiz is scheduled for 6 p.m Friday at Mark West Lodge in Calistoga. A funeral Mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Calistoga.
A "substance-free" memorial gathering in honor of Ruiz is also scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday at the Napa Valley Fairgrounds' Tubbs Building in Calistoga. There will be food, dancing and musicians are strongly encouraged to bring their instruments.
Reporter Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or vpatton@mercedsun-star.com.
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