Photo courtesy: San Bernardino County Sheriff
Fugitive Alex Demetro sought

Staff Reports

SAN BERNARDINO-  A Union City, CA  man charged with killing a CarMax salesman has been declared a fugitive.

Alex Demetro, 28, allegedly crashed a Corvette into a tree during a test drive around 12:45 p.m., February 23, on Mercedes Lane in Ontario.  Witnesses told police that the driver was traveling at a high rate of speed, possibly as high as 70 mph, when he lost control of the car and crashed.

After the collision, 43-year-old Warren Smale of Montclair, a CarMax employee, was taken to a hospital in critical condition.  He was later pronounced dead as a result of his injuries. Smale had worked at the CarMax dealership since October 2013, and was the first CarMax employee to die during a test drive, according to the company.   He grew up in Pennsylvania and moved to California to find a good job.

Demetro was released from jail February 24 after posting $100,000 bail.

On March 7, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office charged Demetro with one count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, one count of driving while under the influence of a drug causing injury, and one count of driving when privilege suspended or revoked with priors.  When Demetro did not show up for his court hearing, a warrant for his arrest was issued.

The case is currently under investigation by the Ontario Police Department.  If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Alex Demetro, please contact Ontario Police Officer Brian Olivo at (909) 395-4646 or callers wishing to remain anonymous can dial WeTip at (800) 78-CRIME.