DUI Suspect Arrested After Fatal Costa Mesa Crash
COSTA MESA (CBSLA.com) — An alleged DUI driver was under arrest Sunday morning after police say he caused two separate accidents in Costa Mesa, the second killing a 23-year-old Irvine woman and injuring her 26-year-old passenger.
Costa Mesa police say 22-year-old Brandon Alvarez, of Anaheim, was involved in an accident at Harbor Boulevard and Date Place and drove away.
They say minutes later he ran a red light at the northbound 405 off-ramp just before 10 p.m. Saturday, broadsiding a Kia Optima. The driver of the Kia died at the scene and her passenger hospitalized with non life-threatening injuries.
The Nissan pick-up police say was driven by Alvarez had front-end damage.
KCAL9's Louisa Hodge was live Sunday morning on the scene of the second crash, where skid marks and pieces of shattered glass could still be seen on the roadway.
Beer cans were also reportedly in the truck and could be seen strewn across the road before the scene was cleared.
The suspect was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
He was arrested for suspected DUI, for hit-and-run and vehicular manslaughter.
The deceased has been identified as Marcela Pacheco Garciaguirre.
The investigation is ongoing.
