SAN FRANCISCO — An Oakland woman who allegedly told police she was looking down changing a radio channel before her car rear-ended and killed the driver of another vehicle last year on the Bay Bridge, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, according to authorities and court records.
The charge was filed Jan. 29 against Adele Mari Lee, 45. She has been sent a letter by the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office advising her of the charge and that she is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 17.
The collision, which involved other vehicles, happened about 11:15 p.m. on May 2, 2025 westbound on Interstate 80 on the Bay Bridge, east of the San Francisco-Alameda County line.
According to court records, Lee told California Highway Patrol officers she was driving at an unknown speed when she briefly took her eyes off the road to look down and was “changing music on the radio.”
Her vehicle, a Genesis G80 sedan, then rear ended a silver Toyota Corolla driven by Erwin Jacob Patawaran Lecitona, who suffered major head injuries, the court documents say. The 27-year-old San Mateo man had two passengers, one of whom was also injured.
His Toyota suffered major rear-end damage and the impact sent his vehicle crashing into the rear of another Toyota Corolla, the documents say.
Lecitona was taken to an Oakland hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 11:55 p.m.
After giving her statement to officers, Lee was allowed to leave pending further investigation.
In a GoFund Me account established by Lecitona’s the family, he was described as someone who “still had his whole life ahead of him.”
“Jacob was more than a son, brother, uncle, and friend — he was family to so many. He was a strong and resilient person who overcame many challenges. He was also a man of integrity and honesty,” the post says. “Jacob was a man who would always offer a helping hand, a shoulder to cry on, and someone who always looked for the good in people. He believed in living a life without regrets. Regardless of what you had said or done to him in the past, he was always the one to step up and try to make amends even if it meant the other party would not respond the same way.
“Even though we are apart, your spirit lives within us, forever in our hearts. Your laughter, your kindness, your love will never fade. May you continue your journey with God,” the narrative says.