Crashed cars, shootings and stolen art

Del Dios vehicle plunge

A woman was seriously injured after her SUV plunged nearly 300 feet down a canyon along Del Dios Highway near the Lake Hodges dam Wednesday night, authorities said.

Del Dios Highway was closed in both directions between Camino de Estrellas and the dam for several hours while a tow truck retrieved the vehicle and CHP officers investigated the crash.

Witnesses told investigators the 35-year-old woman was headed west when her vehicle veered across the eastbound lane and plummeted off the steep, southern edge of the road about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3.

The SUV landed on its side about 274 feet down the embankment, west of the dam, California Highway Patrol Officer Chris Parent said.

Rancho Santa Fe Fire crews freed the San Diego woman from the vehicle and took her to a hospital, CHP Officer Mary Bailey said. No other passengers were in the SUV.

The woman was not suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. No further information was immediately available.

Accident scene.

Two gunshot victims, two mobile homes

Police responding to a call just before 2 a.m. Sunday, July 31 in the 500 block of West 15th Avenue found two gunshot victims in two mobile homes. A man in his 30s had multiple gunshot wounds to his lower body and a teenage boy in another unit was hit by a stray bullet, according to Escondido police Lt.  Ed Varso.

Three men were seen in a dark-colored car at the time of the shooting. Varso said the area has gang activity and the department was looking into whether the shooting was gang related.

Both of the gunshot victims were taken to the nearby Palomar Medical Center. Although their conditions were unknown, one of the victims appeared to be in a more serious state than the other. The two victims’ wounds were said to be non-life-threatening.

No arrests have been made and Escondido police are asking for the public’s assistance. If anyone has more information on this case, they can call the Escondido Police Department at (760) 839-4722.

Escondido — the painting — stolen

L.A. police seek this painting, stolen in broad daylight from a local art gallery.

Los Angeles police are asking for the public’s help identifying and finding a group of suspects wanted for stealing a $10,000 painting from a Los Angeles art gallery.

The painting “Escondido” is a 3-by-6-foot mixed media on canvas by Neil Nagy created in 2004 and valued at $10,000. It was stolen on July 7 by five suspects who entered the Warschaw gallery at 6th Street and Pacific Avenue while it was open and removed the painting from the wall.

Surveillance video observed four men – two of them with skateboards – and a woman in a pink shirt leaving with the painting. Two of the men were carrying skateboards. One man with sunglasses was carrying the painting. They fled southbound in an alley toward the direction of 7th Street.

Police said a reward was being offered for the painting, but they did not specify the amount. Anyone with information was asked to called the LAPD Art Theft Detail at (213) 486-6940. Anonymous tips can be provided to Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.