Romantic gesture ends in tragedy in Fallbrook

By Kristina Davis, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

Friday, February 26, 2010 at 2:16 p.m.

FALLBROOK — The chalk-drawn sunflower in the middle of the road was supposed to bring a smile to his girlfriend’s face.

But Deio Alcala’s romantic gesture ended in tragedy Friday when he was hit by a school bus before he could finish the drawing.

The girlfriend’s mother, Rita Bennett, described 38-year-old Alcala as a unique character.

“He was a very, very romantic person,” said Bennett. “Her heart is just totally broken.”

Authorities said the bus driver was going east on Reche Road in front of Potter Junior High School about 5:40 a.m. and entered the center median to make a U-turn when he spotted Alcala, said California Highway Patrol Officer Eric Newbury.

The Fallbrook resident, who was kneeling in the median in front of his girlfriend’s home, looked up but did not move in time. The bus driver swerved to the left but couldn’t avoid hitting Alcala, who was then thrown into a Ford Explorer also driving east, Newbury said.

He died shortly after.

No other injuries were reported. There were no students aboard the bus.

Investigators closed Reche Road between South Stage Coach Lane and Green Canyon Road in both directions for several hours.

Alcala, who lived with a roommate and did odd jobs around town, had been dating his 34-year-old girlfriend, Rachel Holmes, for about six months. The chalk drawing was one in a string of romantic gestures to her.

“Her room is full of the poetry he’s written for her,” Bennett said.

Another time, he wrote “Will work for the most beautiful Princess Rachel” on a sign and stood outside where she drops off her children before going to work.

From: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/26/pedestrian-hit-killed-school-bus-fallbrook/?imw=Y