| For Immediate Release Case # 08NF4162
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Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
DRUNKEN DRIVER FACES TRIAL FOR MURDERING 29-YEAR-OLD WOMAN IN HEAD-ON CRASH WHILE DRIVING ON WRONG SIDE OF THE FREEWAY
FULLERTON – A driver under the influence of alcohol faces trial tomorrow for murdering a woman in a head-on crash while driving on the wrong side of the freeway. Angel Herrera Leal, 30, Los Angeles, is charged with one felony count of murder. He faces a maximum sentence of 15 years to life in state prison if convicted. Opening statements are expected to begin tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010, at 8:00 a.m. in Department N-13, North Justice Center, Fullerton.
At approximately 4:45 a.m. on Dec. 27, 2008, Leal is accused of driving several miles on the wrong side of the Interstate 5 Freeway in Anaheim near Disney Way. He is accused of having a blood alcohol level of .29 percent. Several drivers on the freeway had to avoid Leal’s car and called 911 to report that he was driving northbound in the southbound lanes. Leal is accused of crashing his pick-up truck head-on into an oncoming Toyota Corolla, driven by 29-year-old Jisun Park.
Both cars involved in the crash spun and came to a stop on the freeway. Park’s passenger, 29-year-old Rebecca Moon, suffered blunt force trauma to the head and was killed. Park was transported to the University of California, Irvine Medical Center for injuries to her abdomen.
Leal is accused of having two prior convictions for driving under the influence in 2005 and 2007 and was driving on a suspended license at the time of the crash. The defendant had completed alcohol education courses in Los Angeles County and was informed of the danger of driving under the influence of alcohol. He was advised that he could be charged with murder if he killed someone while driving under the influence.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Howard Gundy of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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