News Digest News Digest (June 22, 2005)

Third car accident victim dies

A 71-year-old pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle near University Avenue has died, according to police.

The man, whose name hasn't been released by police, is the third accident victim in Palo Alto in nearly 30 days to have died from his injuries, Palo Alto Police Sgt. Scott Wong said.

The man was struck on June 9 by a slow-moving vehicle at the circular intersection near the Caltrain Station and University Avenue. He died at Stanford Medical Center on Wednesday, Wong said.

The case is being forwarded to the Santa Clara County District Attorney's office for review, although Wong said he doesn't foresee any charges being filed against the driver.

The recent fatalities of Charles Marlo Jenkins III of Palo Alto, who died May 14, and Robert Beebe, 72, of Sunnyvale, who died on Tuesday, are still under investigation. Alcohol is believed to be involved in both of those cases, but not in the death of the 71-year-old man, Wong said. - Sue Dremann

Hit-and-run driver may face new charges

A Sunnyvale man died Tuesday at Stanford Hospital where he was admitted last month after a hit-and-run collision in Palo Alto, according to a Santa Clara County medical examiner's spokeswoman.

Robert Beebe, 72, was struck by a vehicle on May 25 as he rode his bicycle across West Charleston Street near Wilkie Way. He suffered critical injuries, including two broken legs and a broken pelvis.

The driver of the vehicle fled the scene. Police arrested 40-year-old Los Altos resident Craig Borlik in connection with the incident, according to police spokesman Dan Ryan.

Officers discovered Borlik one hour after the collision in a nearby neighborhood, passed out in front of a home. Borlik's 3-year-old son was still strapped into the Ford Expedition, which showed evidence of a crash.

Borlik was found to be driving with a blood alcohol level above 0.20 percent, nearly three times the legal limit. He has been charged with two felony counts of driving under the influence, one felony count of hit-and-run and one felony count of child endangerment.

The charges carry with them several enhancements, setting the maximum possible sentence at 12 years in state prison.

However Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Max Zarzana said prosecutors are looking into amending those charges following Beebe's death, possibly to include vehicular manslaughter.

Prosecutors could announce any new charges they file at a hearing scheduled for July 20. - Bay City News Service

Councilmembers want airport discussion

Palo Alto Vice Mayor Judy Kleinberg and Councilmember Vic Ojakian will ask their colleagues Monday to open a discussion about the future of the Palo Alto Airport.

In their written request, the pair stated that "recent developments and the concern over losing Federal government funding" require a meeting be scheduled as soon as possible.

The City of Palo Alto and Santa Clara County recently declined a $1.3 million federal grant that would have improved security at the Palo Alto Airport because neither agency could commit to keeping the facility open past 2017.

That action prompted a public outcry.

Kleinberg's and Ojakian's memo is scheduled to be discussed following what is expected to be a lengthy debate about the 2005-06 city budget Monday night. The meeting begins at 6:45 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.). - Jocelyn Dong

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