ORANGE (CNS) - Second-degree murder and other charges were filed today against a 39-year-old convicted drunken driver accused in a DUI collision that killed a 19-year-old pedestrian in Orange.
Sitani Pinomi is also charged with driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury and DUI with a blood-alcohol level above .08% or more causing injury, as well as a misdemeanor count of driving while privilege is suspended or revoked due to a DUI, according to court records.
The collision happened at Tustin Street and Heim Avenue, where Pinomi allegedly ran a red light and “showed signs of impairment,'' according to Sgt. Phil McMullin of the Orange Police Department.
The victim, Aden Uriostegui of Orange, was returning home from his job at a Starbucks about 10 p.m. Wednesday, crossing the street with the right of way in a crosswalk, when he was struck by the defendant's F-250 Ford pickup truck, the sergeant said.
Pinomi's license was suspended due to a prior DUI and he was convicted in 2007 of driving under the influence in Los Angeles County, McMullin said.
The prior DUI conviction can be used by prosecutors to upgrade charges from vehicular manslaughter to second-degree murder.
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