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Driver charged in killing of CarMax salesman is now a fugitive, prosecutors say

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A Bay Area man has been charged with killing a CarMax salesman while test driving a Corvette, prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Alex Demetro, 28, was charged last week with one count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, one count of driving under the influence of a drug and causing injury and one count of driving on a suspended license, according to San Bernardino County Superior Court records.

Demetro had been arrested on Feb. 23 when he crashed the Corvette into a tree at about 12:45 p.m. on Mercedes Lane near Concours Street during the test drive, said Sgt. Jeff Higbee of the Ontario Police Department.

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The Union City, Calif., resident was released from jail the next day after posting on $100,000 bail.

Demetro was scheduled to appear on March 7 in a court in Rancho Cucamonga. But when he didn’t show up, a warrant for his arrest was issued and he was charged in the death of Warren Smale, according to court records.

Witnesses told police that the driver was traveling at a high speed, lost control of the Corvette and crashed, police said. Smale, a 43-year-old CarMax salesman from Montclair was a passenger in the car. He was taken to an area hospital in critical condition and was later pronounced dead.

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In a statement after the crash, CarMax said it was “is an incredibly sad day for the CarMax family.” Smale was the first CarMax employee to die during a test drive, the company said. He worked in CarMax’s Ontario store since June 2013.

Demetro was “on more than one prescription medication,” Higbee said. Witnesses told KTLA-TV Channel 5 that the vehicle appeared to reach speeds of up to 70 mph.

Anyone with details about Demetro’s whereabouts is urged to call Ontario Police Officer Brian Olivo at (909) 395-4646; to remain anonymous, dial We-Tip at (800) 78-CRIME.

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Staff writer Matt Hamilton contributed to this report.

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