1972: Car Crashes Into a House in Spring Valley

According to the Spring Valley Bulletin, here's a look at what was happening in Spring Valley and surrounding areas, this week in 1972:

– Dr. Robert Sutton was selected as replacement for retiring Superintendent Byron Netzley, for the Lemon Grove School District. Netzley was with the district for more than 30 years. Sutton served as the assistant superintendent for educational services, and has been with the district since 1951. During his tenure, he has been a fifth grade teacher, and a principal of San Miguel School and Lemon Grove Junior High. Sutton, a native of Minnesota, will earn $26,500 per year, and has signed a four-year contract.

– A Spring Valley woman was sent to Paradise Valley Hospital this week with lacerations to her face, and a house on Purdy Street sustained extensive damage, after a bizarre accident which involved a car driving into the house. According to California Highway Patrol reports, Donna Jean Battles, 25 was driving eastbound on Jamacha Rd. when she lost control of her car, sideswiped another vehicle, jumped the curb, and plummeted down a 60-foot embankment, before crashing into and becoming embedded in the rear two bedrooms of a house at 1167 Purdy St. Amazingly, no one in the house was injured, nor was the driver of the other car, which Battles sideswiped.

– The Mount Miguel High School wrestling team shocked their local rival by claiming the CIF championship tournament. It was the Matadors second straight year of winning the county crown. In a surprising result, Mt. Miguel beat fellow Spring Valley high school Monte Vista, which was previously undefeated. In the regular season, Monte Vista dominated Mt. Miguel by a score of 72-44. The Matadors took the team title, despite Monarch wrestlers Robbie Hudson, Matt Taylor and Steve Meyer winning individual titles. Ben Villareal and Miguel Cesena won titles for Mt. Miguel. The two schools have now taken home the last eight CIF wrestling titles, with the Monarchs winning five, but the Matadors having won three out of the last five.