Man convicted of five prior DUIs arrested after fatal hit-and-run in Orange
A driver with four prior DUI convictions was again arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence on Tuesday after he struck and killed a pedestrian in Orange.
The crash happened at around 11:20 a.m. as the pedestrian crossed N. Tustin Street near Palm Avenue outside of a marked crosswalk, according to Orange Police Department officers.
Paramedics pronounced the victim, who has not yet been identified, dead at the scene.
About 10 minutes after the fatal incident, an OPD detective spotted the suspect's Toyota driving near Glassell Street and Katella Avenue with significant damage to the front end.
A brief pursuit ensued before the suspect, who has been identified as 31-year-old Jonathan Lopez, came to a stop at Tustin Street and Adams Avenue.
"Lopez displayed objective signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication and was arrested for felony DUI, felony hit and run, evading, and vehicular homicide," said a statement from OPD. "Lopez has four prior convictions of DUI in the last 10 years."
Video from the scene of the arrest shows Lopez as he appears to drink something inside of his damaged car, just moments before he's surrounded by officers.
Police say that Lopez was not legally allowed to be behind the wheel of the car at the time of the crash, and that he had a warrant out for his arrest for driving without a license.
"A DUI driver that has shown that he will continue to drink and drive and drive without a license and be a danger to everyone out there on the road," said Orange Police Lieutenant Phil McMullin. "it's frustrating, but we continue to do what we can for enforcement."
Jail records show that Lopez previously pleaded guilty to felony drunk driving and a misdemeanor for driving on a suspended or revoked license in Dec. 2021.
As part of the plea deal at the time, two misdemeanor counts of child abuse and endangerment for two boys that were in the car were dropped. He was sentenced to 16 months in jail..
At the same time, Lopez also settled a separate criminal case 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.
In May 2018, Lopez pleaded guilty to misdemeanor hit-and-run with property damage and driving on a suspended or revoked license.
He also pleaded guilty to drunk driving in Oct. 2011, April 2012 and Sept. 2015, court records show.
Lopez was charged with second-degree murder on Thursday, as well as 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 of which are felonies.
He also faces sentencing enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury and was charged with a misdemeanor count of driving on a revoked license.
He did not enter a plea at the arraignment and is being held without bail. His arraignment has been rescheduled for March 29.
