Man who said he was running from “zombies” pleads guilty to multiple charges
A 19-year-old man who stole a big rig truck in Temeculaand crashed it into several cars during what he told authorities was anattempt to flee “zombies” will get up to five years in prison, a DistrictAttorney’s Office spokesman said today.
Jeremiah Clyde Hartline pleaded guilty on Monday at the SouthwestJustice Center in Murrieta to a felony count each of assault with a deadlyweapon, hit-and-run resulting in injury and taking a vehicle without theowner’s consent, along with a sentence-enhancing great bodily injuryallegation.
Riverside County District Attorney’s Office spokesman John Hall said themaximum sentence is five years, and the charges against Hartline — threefelonies and a misdemeanor — will be dismissed at the June 24 sentencinghearing if the agreement continues until then. Hartline has been jailed inMurrieta since his arrest. He was denied bail.
He was arrested on suspicion of causing a chain crash on April 6 thatseriously injured two people on northbound Interstate 15.
According to the California Highway Patrol, Hartline was picked up by atrucker — Daniel Martinez — in Tennessee en route to San Diego, where thelong-haul driver picked up a load of strawberries.
About 6 p.m. that Saturday, Martinez parked his 18-wheeler at the CHP’sRainbow Canyon truck inspection station along northbound I-15, according tothe CHP. While Martinez was outside his tractor-trailer, making adjustments,Hartline began to have visions of zombies coming after him, CHP Officer NathanBaer said.
He told City News Service that Hartline was “altered,” possibly underthe influence of a controlled substance, and slid behind the wheel of thetruck, throwing it into gear and accelerating onto the freeway.
“Hartline thought that zombies were chasing him and clinging to thetruck,” Baer said. “Hartline swerved the truck side-to-side to shake thezombies off.”
Less than two miles into the wild ride, near the exit to TemeculaParkway, Hartline sideswiped a Toyota Tacoma pickup, causing that vehicle tocollide with a Toyota 4Runner pickup, which hit a Mercedes-Benz, according toBaer.
The Tacoma overturned, while the Mercedes and 4Runner spun into thecenter divider, the officer said.
The big rig veered to the left, out of control, striking a Ford Taurusand a Honda Accord before jackknifing and blocking all four traffic lanes,according to the CHP.
Baer said Hartline leapt from the semi and ran to a van that had stoppednearby, climbing inside and allegedly attempting to steal that vehicle,according to the CHP. The driver detained the young man until officers arrived,according to the CHP.
Hartline was treated for minor injuries at Rancho Springs Medical Centerin Murrieta and transported to jail.
The occupants of the Tacoma — Kyle Schlosser of San Jacinto and SarahSmall of Hemet — were seriously injured in the crash, according to Baer.
He said the occupants of the other vehicles suffered minor to moderateinjuries, for which they also received treatment.
The freeway was closed for three hours for the cleanup and investigation.
Baer said the load of strawberries, bound for Maryland, could not besalvaged.
