Kamal Attoh, from Linkedin
Case # 18HF0719
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A drunken driver was charged today with murder for swerving onto the sidewalk and crashing into a family of four, killing the mother and injuring her husband and two teenage children.
Defendant: Kamal Akwette Attoh, 37, Santa Ana
Charged today with the following felony counts: Continue reading
Armando Edgar Duran Cruz, a 38-year-old Santa Ana man, is facing a six-year sentence for a DUI crash that killed another man and his 6-year-old nephew in Santa Ana, according to the O.C. Register.
Cruz pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and driving drunk causing injury, according to NBC. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 20. Continue reading
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has arrested a woman for murder following a 2016 vehicle collision where she was found to be driving under the influence.
On Oct. 1, 2016, at approximately 2:15 a.m. Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputies and the Orange County Fire Authority responded to an injury traffic collision on eastbound Alton Pkwy between the 241 toll road and Towne Centre Drive in the city of Lake Forest.
Deputies located two involved vehicles, a Hyundai sedan and a Ford pickup with major damage. The male driver of the Ford pickup was identified as Jose Barrazasoto (12-29-75) of Santa Ana. Barrazasota was pronounced deceased at the scene. The female driver of the Hyundai sedan was identified as Jacie Cornish (8-30-93) of Foothill Ranch, who suffered minor injuries and was admitted to the hospital. Continue reading
John Motesharrei, a 40-year-old Westminster man, pleaded guilty on his birthday Tuesday to a hit-and-run collision that killed Juan Ramirez Garcia, a 48-year-old Santa Ana man who was jogging in Fountain Valley, according to the O.C. Register.
Motesharrei pleaded guilty to hit and run with permanent injury, a felony, and hit and run with property damage, a misdemeanor. Continue reading
ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE
Case # 16CF3123
Date: October 24, 2017
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A drunken driver was sentenced to three years in state prison today for crashing into an Orange Police Department (OPD) officer who was standing behind his patrol vehicle on a residential street.
Defendant: Ashley Victoria Bertolino, 27, Tustin
Pleaded guilty on Aug. 29, 2017, to the following felony counts: Continue reading
How drunk would you have to be to crash your vehicle into a police car? This happened to a 54-year old Santa Ana resident named Ignacio Roldan-Peralto on Saturday, Oct. 21, when he crashed his pick-up truck into an SAPD police car at 1:20 a.m., according to the O.C. Register.
The incident happened as Roldan-Peralto was turning left on Jackson St. at 1st Street – when he slammed into an SAPD police cruiser in the middle of the intersection, according to the SAPD. Continue reading
ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE
Case # 16CF3123
Date: August 29, 2017
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A drunken driver was convicted today of crashing into an Orange Police Department officer who was standing behind his patrol vehicle on a residential street.
Defendant: Ashley Victoria Bertolino, 27, Tustin
Pleaded guilty today to the following felony counts: Continue reading
Dallas Frank Reichstein, a Santa Ana resident who fled the scene of a crash that left a pedestrian dead was sentenced Friday to 22 years in state prison, according to the O.C. Register.
Pearleen Hopkins, a beloved 59-year old Santa Ana resident, died on Jan. 28, 2015, when Reichstein, who was speeding in a 2002 Nissan Xterra, at about 10:10 p.m., struck her as she was crossing MacArthur Blvd.
Hopkins died at the scene. Reichstein took the coward’s way out as he opted to flee from the scene. Continue reading
Santa Ana Police Department
Advisory: SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI EDUCATION
On Sunday, July 23rd, the Santa Ana Police Department will be displaying their “Choose your ride” vehicle at Chapter One located at 227 N. Broadway St. in Santa Ana from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m..
The “Choose your ride” vehicle is a car with half of it painted to resemble a yellow taxi, and the other half a police car. The message is simple and it implores patrons and a passerby to “Choose your ride” and Don’t Drink and Drive. Continue reading
On Sunday, June 18, 2017, at about 2:20 a.m., Costa Mesa police officers were dispatched to West 19th Street and Harbor Boulevard regarding a vehicle versus pedestrian hit and run collision.
Officers located the victim in the street with moderate injuries. A witness followed the suspect vehicle to Dyer Road and the California State Route 55 and called 911. Continue reading
Pearleen Hopkins
Dallas Frank Reichstein, a 48-year-old Santa Ana resident and repeat drunken driver, admitted guilt on Friday, June 16 and he faces 22 years in prison for a hit-and-run collision that left a pedestrian dead in Santa Ana, according to the O.C. Register.
Reichstein accepted felony charges of hit-and-run with permanent and serious injury and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. As part of his plea bargain with the OCDA, a murder charge will be dismissed. Continue reading
NEWS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 1, 2017
Contact: Becky Iannotta, MADD 202.600.2032; becky.iannotta@madd.org
Drunk Driving is Still the Biggest Killer on Our Roads
Drug Impaired Driving a growing problem, but still much to learn
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 1, 2017) — In response to recent reports regarding an increase in drug impaired driving, Mothers Against Drunk Driving wants to remind the public that drunk driving is still the biggest cause of traffic deaths and injuries in the nation.
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) released an update last week to its 2015 drug impaired driving report. As a result, some media coverage has suggested that drugged driving has overtaken drunk driving in terms of traffic fatalities. Continue reading
ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE
Case # 14CF3649
Date: March 24, 2017
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A drunken speeding driver was sentenced today to 15 years to life in state prison for murdering a man after running a red light and crashing into the car the victim was riding in. Herbert Granados Calderon, 26, Santa Ana, pleaded guilty on March 7, 2017, to one felony count of murder. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution.
At approximately 9:00 p.m. on Oct. 25, 2013, Calderon drove southbound at a high rate of speed on Bristol Street in Santa Ana while under the influence of alcohol. The defendant drove through a red light at the Central Avenue intersection and crashed his car into the right rear passenger door of a black Honda Civic which was driving lawfully through the intersection. The victim, 18-year-old Roberto Rubio, was seated in the back seat of the Honda Civic. The force of the collision caused the Honda Civic to rotate clockwise and collide with another vehicle which was lawfully waiting to turn left at the intersection. Rubio died as a result of injuries he sustained during the crash. Continue reading
Herbert Granados Calderon, a 26-year-old man, pleaded guilty Tuesday to causing an alcohol-fueled, three-vehicle crash that killed an 18-year-old man and injured five others in Santa Ana, according to the O.C. Register.
Calderon will be sentenced on March 24. He will likely receive 15 years to life in prison. Calderon pleaded guilty to second- degree murder for the Oct. 25, 2014 car crash that killed Roberto Rubio, according to the OCDA. Continue reading
ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE
Case # 15CF2502
Date: February 22, 2017
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A driver under the influence of narcotics was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in state prison yesterday for hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian sitting on a sidewalk. Ramon Horta, 56, Santa Ana, pleaded guilty to one felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated with a sentencing enhancement for fleeing the scene of the crime. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution and his driver’s license was suspended for three years.
At approximately 1:10 p.m. on Nov. 3, 2015, Horta drove a van while under the influence of narcotics, traveling at approximately 30 mph while approaching the intersection of McFadden Avenue and Cedar Street in Santa Ana. The defendant slowly veered the van to his right and drove over a curb onto the sidewalk. The defendant hit and ran over 24-year-old Marcello Bisarello, who was sitting on the sidewalk. Continue reading