New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: dui

Irvine man arrested after DUI accident kills passenger

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Alcohol, Crime, irvine Leave a comment

Irvine Police Department Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PRESS RELEASE: #01-27-15

Subject: Man Arrested for Manslaughter Following Single-Vehicle Collision

Contact: Farrah Emami, Public Information Officer, 949-724-7112, FEmami@cityofirvine.org

IRVINE, CA – A male driver is in custody following a single-vehicle traffic collision, in which his passenger was killed. Colin Selsted, 27, Irvine, has been arrested on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and felony driving under the influence.

At approximately 10:55 p.m. on Jan. 26, 2015, Selsted was driving a Volkswagen hatchback on Shady Canyon Drive near Cloverfield with a 23-year-old female passenger, Devon Williams, in his vehicle. The vehicle left the roadway before overturning and coming to rest in a landscaped area on the side of the road. Continue reading→

Suspected DUI driver crashes during pursuit by Sheriff’s Deputies

Posted on January 10, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Crime, irvine, Orange County Leave a comment

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org

Suspected DUI Driver Crashes During Pursuit by Deputies

LAKE FOREST, Calif. – (January 10, 2015) – On Friday, January 9, 2015 at approximately 10:30 p.m., Orange County Sheriff’s deputies initiated a pursuit of a 2002 Ford Explorer in the area of Toledo Way and Serrano Road. The driver of the vehicle was suspected by deputies of driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Deputies pursued the vehicle for approximately (5) minutes through the cities of Lake Forest, Irvine and Mission Viejo. The pursuit terminated on southbound Trabuco Road near Carlota Road, Mission Viejo, when the vehicle was unable to negotiate a curve in the road and collided with an embankment.

As a result of the collision, the 18 year-old female driver was ejected from the vehicle and suffered life-threatening injuries. She was transported to a nearby hospital where she remains in grave condition. A 20-year old male passenger in the vehicle sustained moderate injuries and remains hospitalized; an 18 year-old female passenger in the vehicle sustained minor injuries and was treated and released from an area hospital. Continue reading→

Marine convicted of DUI crash that killed three of his fellow soldiers

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Military, OCDA, Orange County Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 12CF1778

December 10, 2014

DRUNKEN-DRIVER MARINE CONVICTED OF CAUSING CRASH THAT KILLED THREE FELLOW MARINES AFTER CRASHING INTO TREE

WESTMINSTER – A Marine was convicted today of driving under the influence of alcohol and causing a crash that killed three fellow Marines after crashing into a tree. Jared Ray Hale, 27, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury, one felony count of driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or more causing bodily injury, with sentencing enhancements and allegations for driving with a blood alcohol level over .15 percent and causing great bodily injury. He faces a maximum sentence of 12 years in state prison at his sentencing Jan. 30, 2015, at 9:00 a.m., in Department W-13, West Justice Center, Westminster. Continue reading→

Marine to face charges for DUI accident that killed three of his fellow soldiers

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Alcohol, Crime, Military, OCDA, Westminster Leave a comment

Sgt. JC Callahan (right) of Chadron and Cpl. Jason Chleborad of Rapid City, S.D. They died in a DUI accident

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 12CF1778

Date: December 3, 2014

DRUNKEN-DRIVER MARINE SCHEDULED TO FACE TRIAL FOR KILLING THREE FELLOW MARINES BY CRASHING INTO TREE

WESTMINSTER – A Marine is scheduled to face trial for driving under the influence of alcohol and causing a crash that killed three fellow Marines after crashing into a tree. Jared Ray Hale, 27, is charged with one felony count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury, one felony count of driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or more causing bodily injury, with sentencing enhancements and allegations for driving with a blood alcohol level over .15 percent and causing great bodily injury. Opening statements began this morning in Department W-13, West Justice Center, Westminster.

At approximately 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 13, 2012, Hale is accused of arriving at Hennessey’s Tavern in Dana Point with three friends. The defendant and his friends were all Marines stationed at Marine Corp Base Camp Pendleton. The friends included Christopher Arzola, 21, Mass., Jeremiah Callahan, 23, Neb., and Jason Chleborad, 22, S.D. Continue reading→

Drunk driver arrested after hitting several cars and an ambulance

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Alcohol, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Westminster Leave a comment

A suspected drunken driver was arrested Wednesday, after leading police on a pursuit that ended with the vehicle crashing into an ambulance, at about 4:40 p.m., at Bristol Street and McFadden Avenue, according to the O.C. Register.

During the chase, which started in Westminster and led to Santa Ana, the suspect was involved in a total of four collisions, including one at Newhope Street and Edinger Avenue, according to Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna, according to MYNEWSLA. Continue reading→

Westminster man charged with DUI accident that killed a passenger, who was left in a gutter

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Crime, OCDA, Westminster Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 14WF3770

Date: November 7, 2014

DRUNKEN DRIVER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR MURDER FOR CRASHING INTO BRICK WALL AND REMOVING PASSENGER FROM VEHICLE AND LEAVING VICTIM IN GUTTER

SANTA ANA – A drunken driver is scheduled to be arraigned today for murder for crashing into a brick wall and removing the passenger from the vehicle and leaving the victim in the gutter. Jonathan Samoff, 25, Westminster, is charged with one felony count of murder. If convicted, Samoff faces a maximum sentence of 15 years to life in state prison. Samoff is being held on $1 million bail and is scheduled for continued arraignment today, Nov. 7, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in Department W-2, West Justice Center, Westminster.

At approximately 3:15 a.m. on March 8, 2014, Samoff is accused of driving while under the influence of alcohol and speeding in the City of Westminster. Samoff is accused of crashing the vehicle into a brick wall and landing on the sidewalk in front of a light-pole. The defendant is accused of causing the crash that killed 26-year-old passenger Isaias Tang. Samoff is accused of removing Tang from the vehicle and leaving him in the gutter. Continue reading→

Herbert Calderon arrested for fatal DUI collision on Bristol and Central

Posted on October 26, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Alcohol, Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Traffic Investigation- fatal collision Bristol/Central driver arrested DUI

ARRESTED: Herbert Granados Calderon (23) Santa Ana

On 10/25/14 at approximately 2121 hours, officers responded to a traffic collision at Bristol St. and Central Av. Officers arrived on scene and located three vehicles that were involved in the collision. Each vehicle had multiple passengers and there were several injuries. Paramedics further determined that an 18 year old male passenger in a Honda had been killed in the collision.

A Lexus traveled southbound on Bristol St. and failed to stop at the red light at Central Av. The Lexus broadsided a Honda and the force of that collision caused the Honda to collide with a Chevrolet pick-up truck. Continue reading→

The Summer/Labor Day DUI campaign has resulted in 483 arrests

Posted on August 26, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Orange County Leave a comment

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org; Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840, EOsterberg@ocsd.org

Summer/Labor Day AVOID DUI Campaign Update

DUI Arrests Up & No DUI Fatalities

SANTA ANA, Calif. (August 25, 2014) – The Summer/Labor Day National Anti-DUI mobilization has resulted in DUI arrests from local routine traffic enforcement and special ‘Avoid the 38’ DUI deployments in Orange County.

From 12:01 AM Friday, August 15, 2014 through Midnight Sunday, August 24, 2014 officers and deputies representing 38 Orange County law enforcement agencies have arrested 483 individuals for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. In 2013, 374 DUI arrests occurred during the same 10 day time period. There were no DUI related deaths during this time (**NOTE: These numbers are only provisional with some agencies yet to report**). Continue reading→

Santa Ana High School students to learn about the dangers of drinking and driving

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Public Safety, Santa Ana, SAUSD 2 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 5, 2014

Contact: Deidra Powell, Chief Communications Officer, (714) 558-5555 Office, (714) 673-4995 Mobile

News Advisory: Santa Ana High School Students to Learn the Dangers of Drinking and Driving and Impact on Family and Friends with Every 15 Minutes Program

For Immediate Release – On Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 8, the Santa Ana Unified School District Police Department will host, with the support of the California Highway Patrol and a dozen other agencies and sponsors, an event designed to provide a realistic depiction of the consequences of drinking and driving through a mock vehicle accident, memorial service, and an assembly. Geared towards high school juniors and seniors, this 2-day event challenges them to think about drinking, driving, personal safety, the responsibility of making mature decisions and the impact their decisions have on family, friends, and many others. Continue reading→

Man charged with killing a passenger and hurting others while driving drunk

Posted on April 6, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney, Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 14CF0838: April 2, 2014

DRIVER UNDER INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR KILLING PASSENGER AND INJURING THREE OTHERS AFTER LOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE IN RAIN

SANTA ANA – A man who was driving under the influence of alcohol is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow for killing his passenger and injuring three others after losing control of his vehicle while driving at an unsafe speed in the rain. Ulises Mendoza, 20, Santa Ana, is charged with one felony count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and one felony count of driving under the influence causing great bodily injury to another, with sentencing enhancements for causing great bodily injury and causing brain injury resulting in a coma. If convicted, Mendoza faces a maximum sentence of 21 years in state prison. He is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, Thursday, April 3, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Updated: Rigoberto Gomez dies after crashing on freeway and running off

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Santa Ana 25 Comments

A 29-year-old man was found dead in a Santa Ana neighborhood Thursday afternoon after apparently crashing his truck into a freeway median, then getting out and running away, the California Highway Patrol said, according to the OC Register.

UPDATE: The dead man has been identified by the Orange County Coroner as Rigoberto Gomez, 29, of Santa Ana, according to the O.C. Register.

CHP spokesman Todd Kovaletz said witnesses saw the man driving recklessly in a 1992 Chevrolet 1500 pickup on southbound I-5 about 3:40 p.m. He lost control and hit a center-median wall before the truck came to rest in the right lane near Seventeenth Street. Continue reading→

Winter Holiday DUI campaign update

Posted on December 17, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Orange County Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock (714) 904-7042/Gail Krause, (714) 647-1840

Winter Holiday DUI Campaign Update – DUI Arrests Down & No DUI Fatalities

SANTA ANA, California (December 17, 2013) – The Winter Holiday Anti-DUI crackdown has resulted in a significant number of DUI arrests from local routine traffic enforcement and special ‘Avoid the 38’ DUI Task Force deployments over the weekend in Orange County.

From 12:01 a.m. on Friday, December 13 through midnight Sunday December 15 officers representing 38 county law enforcement agencies have arrested 209 individuals for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In 2012, 227 DUI arrests occurred during the same three (3) day time period. There were no DUI deaths over the weekend. (NOTE: These numbers are only provisional with some agencies yet to report) Continue reading→

OCDA receives $386K state grant to fight against driving under the influence of drugs

Posted on December 6, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Drugs, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: December 6, 2013

OCDA RECEIVES $386,060 STATE GRANT TO INCREASE FIGHT AGAINST DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) has received a $386,060 state grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to address the problem of driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs in Orange County. This is the fourth OTS grant awarded to OCDA in an effort to improve detection and prosecution of alcohol and drug-related DUI cases. The OTS grant is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Between 2005 and 2012, the OCDA received over $1.3 million in OTS grants to facilitate the prosecution of DUI alcohol and drug cases by allowing deputy district attorneys and clerical support staff to focus exclusively on DUI cases. Continue reading→

SAPD investigating a fatal accident and arrest the driver for DUI

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: Police Investigate Fatal T/C arrest driver DUI & Gross Vehicular Manslaughter

11/21/13 at 0115 am a 1993 Honda Civic Hatchback occupied by five occupants (three males –two females) traveling at a high rate of speed southbound on the 900 block North Fairview Street when the driver lost control and collided with a fence and then into a utility pole .

One of the adult passengers (Male 23) Santa Ana died as a result of the impact, name not released pending notification of family. The driver and three remaining passengers were transported to local trauma centers for their injuries. The Collision Investigation Unit responded to investigate. Continue reading→

DUI driver sentenced for crash that killed his brother and hurt his nephew

Posted on September 19, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Costa Mesa, Courts, Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 11HF1960: September 18, 2013

DUI DRIVER SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS IN PRISON FOR KILLING BROTHER AND INJURING NEPHEW IN SINGLE-CAR CRASH

SANTA ANA – A drunken driver was sentenced yesterday to four years and four months in state prison for killing his brother and injuring his nephew by crashing his truck while driving at an unsafe speed. Felix Jacobo Brito, 37, Costa Mesa, pleaded guilty to the court yesterday, Sept. 19, 2013, to one felony count of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated without gross negligence, one felony count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury, one misdemeanor count of driving a motor vehicle without a valid license, and sentencing enhancements and allegations for causing bodily injury and death to more than one victim and causing great bodily injury. Continue reading→