| For Immediate Release Case # 13WF2144 July 19, 2013 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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DRUNKEN DRIVER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR KILLING WOMAN AND INJURING HER fiancé IN MOTORCYCLE CRASH
WESTMINSTER – A man will be arraigned Monday for killing a 24-year-old woman and severely injuring her 24-year-old fiancé by hitting their motorcycle while under the influence of alcohol. Tadashi Mizutani, 69, Huntington Beach, is charged with one felony count of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated without gross negligence, one felony count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury, one felony count of driving with blood alcohol .08 percent or more causing bodily injury, and a sentencing enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of seven years and eight months in state prison. The defendant is out of custody on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday, July 22, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. in Department W-2, West Justice Center, Westminster.
At approximately 8:30 p.m. on June 1, 2013, Mizutani is accused of driving his sports car northbound on Goldenwest Street in Huntington Beach. While turning left at the intersection of Goldenwest Street and Rio Vista Drive, Mizutani is accused of failing to yield to Taylor R. and Kelly Morehouse as they legally passed through the intersection on their motorcycle. Mizutani is accused of cutting off the motorcycle and, despite Taylor R.’s efforts, the vehicles collided, causing both Taylor R. and Morehouse to be thrown from the motorcycle.
Mizutani is accused of causing the crash that killed Kelly Morehouse and resulted in Taylor R. breaking both of his legs.
Shortly after the crash, Huntington Beach Police Department officers arrived at the scene. Mizutani is accused of having a blood alcohol content of .13 percent.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Troy Pino of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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