Photo: Peter Dazeley / The Image Bank / Getty Images
SANTA ANA (CNS) - A convicted drunken driver suspected of causing a fatal hit-and-run DUI accident and leading police on a pursuit in Orange was charged Thursday with second-degree murder.
Jonathan Lopez, 31, of Orange, was also charged with leading police on a chase, hit-and-run with permanent injury, driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, and driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol content in excess of the legal limit causing injury, all felonies. He also faces sentencing enhancements for inflicting treat bodily injury and was also charged with a misdemeanor count of driving on a revoked license.
Usually, defendants are charged with vehicular manslaughter in a deadly collision, but when they have a prior DUI conviction, they can face an upgraded charge of second-degree murder under state law. Lopez has been previously convicted of DUI.
Lopez was accused of hitting a pedestrian just before 11:20 a.m. Tuesday in the 300 block of North Tustin Street, Orange Police Department Lt. Phil McMullin said.
The victim, who was crossing the street outside of a crosswalk, was hit by a northbound Toyota whose driver kept going, McMullin said. Police were still working to identify the victim, McMullin said Thursday.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene. About 10 minutes later, a detective from the Orange Police Department spotted the suspect vehicle with significant front-end damage north on Glassell Street at Katella Avenue. When he tried to pull the driver over, the suspect kept going, leading police on a short pursuit before stopping at Tustin Street south of Adams Avenue, McMullin said.
Lopez appeared intoxicated and police were seeking blood tests, McMullin said. Lopez has four prior convictions for driving under the influence over the past 10 years, McMullin said.
Lopez was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, hit- and-run, leading police on a chase and vehicular homicide, McMullin said.
Lopez pleaded guilty in December 2021 to felony drunken driving with a misdemeanor for driving on a suspended or revoked license, according to court records. As part of the plea deal, two misdemeanor counts of child abuse and endangerment for two boys who were in the car were dropped. He was sentenced to 16 months in jail.
Lopez settled a separate criminal case against him at the time with a guilty plea to misdemeanor driving on a suspended or revoked license due to a prior DUI, as well as infractions for child seats in the car and for using a phone while driving.
Lopez pleaded guilty in May 2018 to misdemeanor hit-and-run with property damage and driving on a suspended or revoked license.
Lopez pleaded guilty to drunken driving in September 2015, April 2012 and October 2011, according to court records.