East County
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The driver of a pickup truck involved in an accident in Buckman Springs that killed three people will have his preliminary hearing Monday.
Joseph Murphy, 26, of Huntington Beach, has pleaded innocent in El Cajon Municipal Court to three counts of vehicular manslaughter stemming from the March 24 accident.
His attorney, Gershon Greenblatt, said Wednesday there was no alcohol found in a blood test taken after the accident, despite reports from the California Highway Patrol that Murphy had been drinking.
Murphy is accused of pulling out from a stop sign in his pickup and crashing into a car driven by James (Rusty) Onweller, 38, of Santee.
Three passengers in Onweller’s car were killed, including his 13-year-old stepson, Christopher Onweller. Linda Perillo, 38, and Tammy Keiffer, 18, both of Santee, also died.
Murphy remains free on $15,000 bail.
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