CARLSBAD — Karl Russell testified he thought the lights of heaven opened up for him two years ago when he was involved in a fatal accident in Carlsbad.

“It was blinding,” Russell said.

While Russell never met his maker, he did go before the higher power of Superior Court Judge David Danielsen who found him guilty June 25 of first-degree murder, as well as burglary, vehicle theft and causing serious injury or death while evading police stemming from the 2006 accident.

Russell, of Phoenix, faces 26 years to life in prison when he’s sentenced Aug. 8, Deputy District Attorney Richard Madruga said outside the courtroom.

Despite the evidence against him, Russell said he didn’t remember the accident and had vague memories of his actions prior to the fatal collision with Rodrigo Vega, 38, at the intersection of El Camino Real and Plaza Drive around 4:50 a.m. Sept. 5, 2006.

Vega, who wasn’t wearing his seatbelt, was thrown from his pickup when Russell slammed into him, police said. Vega was on his way to work at the Callaway Golf Company on Rutherford Road in Carlsbad when the accident occurred.

An accident reconstructionist for the County of San Diego testified Russell was traveling approximately 63 mph when he struck Vega’s vehicle.

In addition to having a .13 blood alcohol level, Madruga argued that Russell was still in the act of a burglary he and another man committed approximately 15 minutes earlier at an Oceanside residence less than five miles away. He said Russell had reached speeds of 100 mph while trying to evade police moments before the accident occurred.

The 1994 Oldsmobile Russell had been driving at the time of the collision had been stolen during the burglary, police said.

“It’s evident from his testimony the defendant is not willing to admit to facts that he knows are negative against him,” Madruga said.

Defense attorney John Lee said the burglary ended when he dropped his accomplice off at the Oceanside Pier moments after the burglary. After that, Lee said Russell was just “cruising” when the accident occurred. In addition, he said his client never realized he was being actively pursued because the officer maintained a three to four car length distance.

“The evidence doesn’t establish continuous action for first-degree murder,” Lee said.

Russell served prison time in Arizona for a previous auto theft.