Monica Cameroni De Adams dies in fatal San Diego DUI crash
Fatal San Diego DUI crash death of Monica Cameroni De Adams – Obituary
On December 6, 2023, employees at Allied Gardens Tow Company detected a strong odor coming from a wrecked vehicle that had been sitting in the lot for a month. Upon investigation, they discovered the decomposed body of 65-year-old Monica Cameroni De Adams inside.
De Adams had been involved in a collision on November 5, 2023, when a drunk driver, Jordan Lopez, crashed into her parked 2001 Honda Odyssey on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. At the time of the crash, De Adams, who was homeless, had been sleeping inside her van. However, authorities failed to check the vehicle before it was towed to the lot, leaving her injured and trapped inside.
A legal claim filed by De Adams’ family alleges that San Diego Police officers neglected to inspect the van for occupants. Reports indicate that Officer Matthew Brace arrested Lopez at the scene for driving under the influence after he admitted to drinking at a bar. Despite attempts to contact the registered owners of the damaged cars, police ultimately had the vehicles towed, unaware that De Adams was inside.
Concerned about her whereabouts, De Adams’ family reported her missing after she failed to respond to birthday messages on November 13, 2023. It wasn’t until a month later that tow yard workers found her remains. The San Diego County Medical Examiner determined that she had died from blunt force trauma, with multiple fractures in her ribs, spine, and arm. Her death was classified as an accident.
Lopez later accepted a plea deal and is facing six years in prison along with five years of probation. His attorney argued that De Adams likely survived the initial crash but succumbed to her injuries later, avoiding vehicular manslaughter charges.
San Diego officials have not provided a statement regarding the allegations, and Lopez’s sentencing is scheduled for March 20.
