Fatality in Pala identified as 16-year-old boy

Sunday, July 12^th, 2009.
Issue 28, Volume 13.

Story Last Updated : Jul 14th.

PALA- Friends and family are mourning a 16-year-old boy who apparently died after being struck by one or more vehicles on the Pala Indian Reservation.

Andrew Thomas Smith Jr. was found lying unresponsive in the roadway at Pala Temecula Road and Moro Road around around 2:45 a.m. Sunday, according to the California Highway Patrol and the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office.

He was taken to Pala's fire station, where he was pronounced dead at 3:15 a.m., the Medical Examiner's Office reported.

Smith lived on the Pala reservation with his father. His ATV was found nearby, according to the Medical Examiner's Office.

Pala sources said the young man was the nephew of Tribal Chairman Robert Smith.

(previous story Sunday, July 12, 2009) Advertisement

Fatal accident in Pala

PALA- One person was killed early this morning on a highway that runs along the Pala Indian Reservation, the California Highway Patrol said.

The CHP dispatcher on duty this morning had little information about the incident reportedly occured at

2:44 a.m. on Pala Temecula Road at Moro Road in Pala.

However the dispatcher did confirm that a person had died, but did not know whether a car or motorcycle was involved. The dispatcher also didn't know if any other people were injured.

The southbound lanes of Pala Temecula Road were shut down near the scene for about two hours. The Pala Casino Spa and Resort is about a mile southwest of where the fatality occurred.

51 comments for "Fatality in Pala identified as 16-year-old boy"

7:20 pm Sun, Jul 12^th, 2009

1. pala friend says :

I was there when that happened. I just can't believe A.J. is gone. He was such a great person. Rest in Peace.

7:20 pm Sun, Jul 12^th, 2009

2. Lynn says :

Why do the emergency vehicles need their sirens blasting at 3:00 a.m. on the 15?! The incident was still miles away and how much traffic was there at 3:00 a.m.?? I awoke to sirens, sirens and more sirens for over 30 minutes! Aren't the lights on the emergency vehicles sufficient at that hour - so far yet from the actual site? I'm sorry to hear about the death, but did the sirens really accomplish any faster response?

7:16 am Mon, Jul 13^th, 2009

3. Ray says :

Lynn: Too bad the sirens wrecked your beauty sleep but if you know how these vehicles are wired, you would understand sirens and lights go together. Sometimes lights are not noticed by drivers, the sirens detour traffic and alerts drivers blocks away, response time could mean life or death. Also depending on the code of call, it's required to run lights and sirens. This is what I mean about people and the NIMBY syndrome.

7:16 am Mon, Jul 13^th, 2009

4. Norm says :

Someone died Lynn. At least you can still hear the sirens.

7:16 am Mon, Jul 13^th, 2009

5. PALA 1618 says :

I WAS THERE TOO WHEN THIS HAPPENED I COULDNT BELIVE MY EYES..THERE WAS A YOUNG BOY WHO I USED TO SEE ALL THE TIME WHEN I WORK FOR THE TRIBE..JST LYING THERE..I JST CANT BELIVE THAT HES GONE AND THAT THE MAN WHO DID IT JST TOOK OFF WAT KINDA PERSON ARE YU...R.I.P AJ YU WILL ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEARTS....

7:16 am Mon, Jul 13^th, 2009

6. :) says :

faster response no . belive it or not there is alot of casino traffic at that time. im sure the emt's dont need a drunk driver pulling out in front of them an have another fatal accident on there hands. whats sad is when people complain about stupid minor thing like that. some one dies an someone else is complaining about the noise. imagine that. what if it was you, you would want everything an anything possible to be done for them to arrive as soon as possible..

7:17 am Mon, Jul 13^th, 2009

7. Reality Checker says :

Lynn, it does seem rather unnecessary in that situation, but emergency vehicles are required by law to run code three with lights and sirens when speeds above the posted speed limit are required in response to an emergency call. If they are traveling at speeds in significant excess of the posted limit and get into an accident, they can be held liable for any property damage or injuries and deaths as a result of driving without due regard. The lights and sirens are simply to make a path for emergency vehicles to respond in the most expedient manner possible and even though there aren't many other vehicles on the road at that time of the morning, they still have laws and rules they must abide by. When you least expect something to happen, it usually does. Then the lawsuits come flooding in seeking damages for driving without due regard or for exceeding the posted limit and not running code three to make the other drivers aware. Thank all the ambulance chasing lawyers for this one, not the emergency responders. They don't have the choice. They do think of people just like you, they just can't be empathetic to your plight and turn it off, for as soon as they do, crap happens.

7:18 am Mon, Jul 13^th, 2009

8. just sayin' says :

so many units rolling because of the crowd that was gathering and the deputy needed help. Reason the units were rolling with lights and siren is that if a collision occurs because some idiot does not yield, the Officer will be covered. Vehicle code says lights and siren when responding code three. Sorry that you were awakened by people just doing their jobs and keeping you safe...

7:18 am Mon, Jul 13^th, 2009

9. Dave says :

Lynn, It's a "Catch 22". This is a conceptual opinion and I don't wish to get into a debate with someone but.....The vehicle code states that emergency vehicles need to use their lights AND sirens. Most Fire Departments do not do this while the CHP always does this. It comes down to liabilities if some innocent driver gets involved because they did not hear a siren and the emergency vehicle did not have it on...well guess what, it's lawsuit city. It would nice to say let's use " a reasonable man standard", but lawyers do not do that. Just remember, the drivers of the emergency vehicles are bound by the vehicle code and their agency policy. I hope that clarifies things a little.

8:26 am Mon, Jul 13^th, 2009

10. another white guy says :

What about the person who was driving the car that hit him? A kid died. Will there be complaining about the sirens going after the hit and run suspect when he/she/it is found? The kid should have been at home and asleep at 2 am. Great parenting. Poor kid.

9:17 am Mon, Jul 13^th, 2009

11. mk says :

rip aj

9:59 am Mon, Jul 13^th, 2009

12. hmm says :

Again our thoughts and concerns are with this family..for those of you complaining you should live on East ALvarado where FPUD had their lights going and their radio BLASTING at 3a.m. last Tuesday morning..what kind of emergency necissitated that,FPUD??a sewer back up or a broken water line?Perhaps but come on..did they really have to BLAST their radio at that hour??

9:59 am Mon, Jul 13^th, 2009

13. sago says :

Prayers and Love for AJ, his family and friends today and every day! Thank you to every one who stopped or helped AJ during this nightmare. The person or people involved will pay for this one day. Slow Down and wake up DRIVERS you are murdering are children, family and friends.

Be accountable for your actions people...................RIP AJ

10:32 am Mon, Jul 13^th, 2009

14. dr common sense says :

the grand opening party of pala raceway was saturday, was he coming from there? my sympathy goes out to his family in this difficult time.

11:37 am Mon, Jul 13^th, 2009

15. Darrel says :

I was there also just after the accident. One guy was pacing back and forth in the middle of the street, yelling for the poor kid to get up and even tried to drag him out of the road. At the same time the guy was screaming at the top of his lungs and put his hands up in the air several times as if he had done something wrong to the kid and needed him to get up so he would not be in trouble. The guy and the girl I saw there were obviously drunk and no doubt were part of the poor boys tragic death. Not to mention the fact that they were all uncooperative with the police when they showed up. I don't beleive the kid fell off his atv either, I think the guy that was pacing back and forth hit him with his vehicle but only he knows that. It is not uncommon for people to show up and help someone in need, however when you have people like that guy and girl in the street acting like idiots I don't blame people for not stopping to help. Someone might of been able to save the kids life.

11:38 am Mon, Jul 13^th, 2009

16. Ray says :

Sory a tad bit vague. What about the driver? did he stop? If not, any information on the type of vehicle? The reason why I ask is because the area is frequently used by smugglers both drug and human and Pala Temecula Road is the main road used. Also a lot of drunks use this road to go between casinos. The Border Patrol has been monitoring this area for years now with officers and even "hidden cameras". It's a bypass route from the I-15 checkpoint so it's closely monitored. I hope the FBVN lists more details as they come in.

1:59 pm Mon, Jul 13^th, 2009

17. Michael Jackson lover says :

Lynn....You are seriously the rudest person to ever live in Fallbrook. I can hear your nasty old voice complaining about "those kids".

2:00 pm Mon, Jul 13^th, 2009

18. dr common sense says :

ray: you are right about that road, major smuggling, my money would be on a drunk driver from one of the casinos considering the time (right around last call). we used to live near rice canyon rd. and drove 76 (E. of 15) daily, when casinos were just popping up and watched first hand the increase of 'idiots' heading toward the buffet. we also noticed the BP check point on 76 was less frequently opened almost certainly due to pressure from casino executives atleast the BP could call CHP for DUI'S but once that was gone it was a free for all.

2:00 pm Mon, Jul 13^th, 2009

19. Tammy says :

Unbeleiveable the fire department and the police try to help and 60 plus people living on the reservation protest and almost start a riot right after the boy is hit by the truck. What is wrong with you people! That is disgusting and you all obviously have no morals. I saw the boy racing up and down the edge of the main road in front of the casino earlier in the day and kicking up dust at passing vehicles. I will not be traveling back through Pala again and would caution anyone about the unlawfulness of that area. Thank God nobody else got hurt that day.

2:11 pm Mon, Jul 13^th, 2009

20. kumeyaay indian says :

My prayers are with the smith family..

3:18 pm Mon, Jul 13^th, 2009

21. mom of lots says :

A few months ago, my family and I were traveling west towards the 15 on our way back to Fallbrook. The vehicle in front of us was swerving, braking, driving slow, etc. It obviously was a drunk driver. Once we got to the 15 the vehicle turned right onto the dirt instead of right onto the fwy. It finally found its way to the fwy. We called 911, but to no avail. 911 was swamped. They didn't even want to know the license plate number, but we insisted and gave it anyway. They informed us to not follow the vehicle due to the danger and that was it. We went home to Fallbrook hoping response came, but we doubted it. By their reaction to us 911, it sounds like they get these calls all the time.
My sincerest condolences to the family of the 16 year old boy. May God give you the peace that passes all understanding.

5:07 pm Mon, Jul 13^th, 2009

22. hope says :

To Lynn:
A few years ago, there was controversey over whether a police officer had his sirens on with his lights. He struck a vehicle killing a young girl inside. The thought was maybe if he had both on, the other car would have responded differently. Especially if there were any kind of drinking that was going on.

7:15 am Tue, Jul 14^th, 2009

23. san pasqual rez says :

Rip aj god loves you and needed your help you will be dearley miss

7:15 am Tue, Jul 14^th, 2009

24. Fall Res says :

Lynn - in addition, the 15 in that area is down to one lane headed northbound late at night right now, don't you think sirens could be helpful for the small amount of traffic on the 15 that needs to get out of the way? As well as alert construction crews to the fact that they are going to need to speed thru? Heaven forbid this was you or one of your loved ones, I am sure you would have wanted emergency vehicles there as quickly as possible and these vehicles being involved in an accident themselves on the way there isn't going to help anyone!

7:15 am Tue, Jul 14^th, 2009

25. stop it!! says :

Lynn, what is wrong with you? A 16 year old boy......want me to repeat that????.....A 16 year old BOY died. I don't care if you heard the lights and sirens. You are the epitome of selfishness. Do you know what you reap, you sow? How would you like that one coming back on you ten-fold? Have some sympathy, no matter what the circumstances are. It was a child, just pray for his family and friends because they are in tremendous pain.

12:48 pm Tue, Jul 14^th, 2009

26. A SP Mom says :

There is no greater gift than life. When it is taken at such an early age we all grieve. We are deeply sorry and give our deepest condolences in this time of pain.

12:48 pm Tue, Jul 14^th, 2009

27. caln8tive says :

I think Lynn has major issues!!! Like selfishness....and many others...

1:28 pm Tue, Jul 14^th, 2009

28. pala rez says :

he was probably at the party that was going on that night. i just can't believe that the person who killed him got away with it. that's unbelieveable.

3:18 pm Tue, Jul 14^th, 2009

29. Jon says :

Lynn - Somebody lost their 16 year old child and you are complaining about sirens. You make me sick.

3:18 pm Tue, Jul 14^th, 2009

30. PALA friend says :

This is not the first young person to die in pala. It was a freak accident.Like all the others. All due to high speed driving on thier atv's. Its so sad that they had to go so young.R.I.P.

4:50 pm Tue, Jul 14^th, 2009

31. stop it!! says :

pala rez: He won't get away with it. He turned himself in when he got home. However, he left the scene of a fatal accident. He will go to court and receive the punishment he righteously deserves. He should have called for help right away and perhaps saved the boy's life (if he was still alive).

Having said all that though. The boy's father needs to arrested as well for felony child endangering. He never should have allowed his 16 year old son out that late at night. There is a legal curfew. I don't honestly know if that curfew is valid on a reservation, but it should be.

I know this is hard on everyone on the Pala Rez, but please hold this neglectful father accountable for his negligence. His son would be alive today if he had cared enough to tell him to come home. This is a tragedy in so many respects. It injures an entire community. That community needs to hold this father in their arms with love, while carefully letting him know what he did that was so very wrong.

The motorist?? They need to throw the book at him. He left a dying or already dead boy and that man obviously has no soul.

7:37 pm Tue, Jul 14^th, 2009

32. FRIEND OF THE FAMILY says :

WOW so much to say. First of all AJ's dad was not at fault for this and if you know him you would know he is a good father. Second AJ was a 17 year old boy and as many parents know teenagers dont always do what there parents say. Third why dont you all leave this family alone they have been through enough and dont need you putting in your bull. I pray that nothing like this happens to your family because then you might see how it is to have stupid ignorant people comment on such a sad accident. RIP AJ

7:38 pm Tue, Jul 14^th, 2009

33. SacredEye says :

Gosh, Lynn. I bet you wouldn't be complaining about lights and sirens if those emergency vehicles were coming to YOUR aid. You have some nerve, lady :(

My heart and prayers go out to this boys family. Our kids are supposed to outlive us. We aren't supposed to outlive our kids.

9:29 pm Tue, Jul 14^th, 2009

34. Frosty says :

stop it: Curfew? Your "pale-face" laws have no jurisdiction on tribal land, I have seen many people assaulted out there and have their most basic rights violated for no reason other than being non-tribe members. If you have ever lived out there you would see the true un-lawfulness that happens. Real "Bad-Lands".

7:03 am Wed, Jul 15^th, 2009

35. stop it!! says :

Frosty: Oh.....I wasn't sure. I know there is a huge amount of lawlessness out there. I don't live on the rez, but other family members do (not Pala though). I have seen it and it is so very sad. A very proud people steeped in beautiful traditions. I cannot understand why all the garbage still takes place out there. They all get casino money and I hoped they would use that to improve their lives.

7:03 am Wed, Jul 15^th, 2009

36. William Roush says :

@Lynn:
You have got to be kidding me...

I hope when you're in need of medical assistance the paramedics decide everyone else's comfort is greater than your life.

10:30 am Wed, Jul 15^th, 2009

37. Ray says :

Frosty: Good question. Does the tribe have it's own tribal police force? I know some reservations do and that local laws don't apply on federal land. I know the tribal leader who once opposed a casino frequently seen gambling at Pechanga now has a casino. Now I know the tribe is small but now with the casino, if they don't have one, they should. Maybe these speeders would slow down if they were cited and had to appear in tribal court under tribal law.

2:01 pm Wed, Jul 15^th, 2009

38. kupa resident says :

lynn ur a punk for cryn about sirens white guy ur rite they should make the sirens louder for lynn as for the smith family sorry to hear about ur loss

8:08 am Thu, Jul 16^th, 2009

39. JR says :

What is a minor doing out after 10 p.m.? Was the minor properly tested for operating the ATV under the influence or alcohol and drugs, given the time of incident? I agree the parents should be prosecuted for neglect. Also given the time of the occurance if a DUI driver hit him the driver the Pala Indian Resort and tribe should be held accountable for serving the alcohol. The same thing happened at Barona and they cannot serve alcohol there anymore. They should implement the same ban on alcohol.

As far as Indian reservation being above the law that is not the case. Otherwise they would have 24 hour alcohol sales like Nevada. Gambling attracts deviant behavior and criminal mischief to the area. They should consider a ban on both.

8:27 am Thu, Jul 16^th, 2009

40. trucker says :

It is sad so many people judge others before knowing facts. He was being chased by the tribal police at the time. He crashed and fell into the road and a semi ran him over. The sheriffs were called because the local tribe people were blaming the tribal police for even chasing him, and when the CHP and sheriffs showed up there was almost a riot.

10:36 am Thu, Jul 16^th, 2009

41. Resident says :

Why was there almost a riot?

11:32 am Thu, Jul 16^th, 2009

42. Ray says :

trucker: I knew there was more to this story than what was printed. So that answers my question, the tribe does have a police force. Being so small I really didn't know. I am sure if the SDSO or CHP were chasing him, there would still be a riot either way. Did the trucker stop?

JR: Remember this is federal land and the tribal council has their own laws. You can't apply state law to a federal reservation. Nevada has 24 hour sales because it's their law. Las Vegas is not a reservation. It's up to the tribe to regulate sales of alcohol. Barona and the tribe did it on their own, nobody forced them. Remember they could have built their casinos with or without the proposition, they were just being nice to give the communities input. Remember once you cross over into a reservation, your actually in another country and subject to tribal law. Some larger reservations have their own police, jails, courts and in some cases prisons.

1:13 pm Thu, Jul 16^th, 2009

43. kupa resident says :

jr u dnt live on the res so wat makes u think wat the laws should or shouldnt be u dnt knw a damn thing any of u to all u another boy died familys mourning an all u people cry about is wat should happn to the parents

4:24 pm Thu, Jul 16^th, 2009

44. Ray says :

kupa resident: Translated by Google. English please. These blogs are not text messages, you can freely write.

7:32 am Fri, Jul 17^th, 2009

45. Sophia says :

Kids are kids and it's so sad to see them go so soon. I live on the Res and we do had laws to abide by. My thoughts go out to the family

7:33 am Fri, Jul 17^th, 2009

46. FYI says :

Just for all of your information.....CHP has jurisdiction on all State roads and highways, which that road being state is....

Comment Continued : The comment above was written from the same location.

7:33 am Fri, Jul 17^th, 2009

47. La Jolla Res Member says :

Prayers to the family of AJ. And I wish that outsiders weren't so quick to judge and criticize what happens on the res just because it's in the news. Everyday when I turn on the news I see awful things that have happened off the res. So please, to those of you who like to talk alot of trash, look in your own backyard. Look at your family, your neighbor, people you know. This stuff happens everywhere, it's not just an Indian thing.

10:59 am Sat, Jul 18^th, 2009

48. Tomas says :

La Jolla Res Member: you are absolutely right! And you are correct, unlike Ray (again), when you mention traffic enforcement by CHP. Additional misinformation by Ray, to his many FVN fans, is that local laws do not apply on the reservations. Not true. ALL State laws apply on the reservation. Local municipal codes (County ordinances) do NOT. That is the only exception I am aware of. Look up Public Law 280 for more info.

10:40 am Mon, Jul 20^th, 2009

49. Glory says :

I do live in Pala, in fact right near the area where the boy was killed. I know the family personally, and do hold the father responsible. Anyone from Pala knows how steeped into the drug situation the father is in, it's a "known" fact that AJ and his sister grew up in a drug environment. Don't sugar coat it, be honest. This boy had an issue with drinking and drugs, a good parent would have taken his ATV away from him. Unfortunately this is not an isolated situation on the Rez, it is what is sadly termed as a "learned environment". There is a curfew in Pala, trying to enforce it without any backup from the Adults is near to impossible.

8:35 am Mon, Aug 3^rd, 2009

50. Blue says :

I m very sorry about the loss of this young man but obviously the rest of the young people didn't learn from this death because they are stiill riding atvs and dirt bikes no lights on dressed in black and racing on all the main roads onthe rez I am a employee at Pala Casino and have witnessed many times the carelessness of these kids , there will be more fatal accidents unless something is done about this ,you can complain about the traffic but some of the worst drunks that leave Pala are tribal members . Please teach your children how to ride and drive before you turn them loose on public. streets and highways

8:21 am Fri, Oct 23^rd, 2009

51. kM. says :

R.I.P. A.J

Fatality in Pala identified as 16-year-old boy

51 comments for "Fatality in Pala identified as 16-year-old boy"

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