Emergency Information Regarding University City Military Jet Crash

A memorial has been established for the family of the victims. For more information, please contact the Korean United Methodist Church of San Diego at (858) 569-4069.

On December 8th, 2008 our community was shocked by the devastation from the crash of a U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18D in a residential neighborhood in south University City.

My heart goes out to the family that suffered the devastating loss of a grandparent, a wife and two small children.

My thoughts are also with those neighbors who were uprooted by damage to their homes and evacuations. I want to thank the community for its cooperation with military and emergency personnel. I understand that an influx of crews can be extremely disruptive, but I hope that we can count on your forbearance and understanding until their jobs are finished.

With a disaster such as this, it is possible that the debris field extends beyond the range of the crash site. If you come across something that you suspect might be a piece of debris from the accident, please leave it where you have found it and contact the United States Marine Corps at (858) 577-1727. This investigation could help prevent tragedies in the future.

I will be providing an update on the facts as we know them at a Community Forum on Thursday, December 11 at 6 p.m. in the auditorium of the University City High School, 6949 Genesee Ave., 92122.

Please visit the United States Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Web page for information regarding the crash.

For up-to-the-minute information on road closures and instructions to residents, call San Diego Police at (619) 531-2000.

If my staff or I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at (619) 236-6611 or (858) 484-3808, or via email at SherriLightner@sandiego.gov.

It is a privilege to serve as the Councilmember representing District 1.

My goals are to give priorities to neighborhoods, to preserve and enhance our quality of life, to protect our coastline and other natural spaces, and to plan for the future, leaving San Diego in a better place financially, economically, and politically than where we found it.

Our city faces many challenges, not the least of which are a structural budget deficit, difficult economic times, water scarcity, and rising demand for electricity. We cannot face these problems alone, compromises will likely need to be made, and creative thinking will be necessary. Working together, I believe we can surmount these difficulties.

But my primary role is to serve you, the residents of District 1, in the best possible way that I can. Through your participation and input, I hope my staff and I can meet your needs. Please do not hesitate to contact me at SherriLightner@sandiego.gov with questions, concerns, or suggestions.