Bride testifies about wedding night carjack

[Gormy Cuss]

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/11/15/BAG8QFOEGC1.DTL

Bride testifies about wedding night carjack

Dave Murphy, Chronicle Staff Writer Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Until they got to the Taco Bell, Steve Almanza and Valerie Zahn had enjoyed a typical and exhausting wedding day -- she in a white gown, he in a tuxedo and about 100 friends and family members gathering for a celebration in his parents' San Mateo backyard.

The young newlyweds -- still in their formal clothes -- were at the fast-food restaurant on East Fourth Avenue in San Mateo about 11 p.m. on their way to a hotel in Burlingame. Almanza went in for some takeout food, and a couple minutes later, while her new husband was inside the restaurant, the 22-year-old bride was the victim of one of the shortest and most unsuccessful carjackings in history.

Next time, opt for room service.:P