Case # 15HF0702
July 9, 2015
DRUNKEN DRIVER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR ROLLOVER CRASH THAT KILLED BICYCLIST IN DANA POINT
SANTA ANA – A drunken driver is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow for causing a rollover crash that killed a bicyclist. Dominic Devin Carratt, 20, Dana Point, is charged with one felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated, one felony count of driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury, one felony count of driving with a blood alcohol of .08 percent or more causing bodily injury, and a sentencing enhancement for great bodily injury. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison. He is being held on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, Friday, July 10, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.
At approximately 11:15 p.m. on April 29, 2014, Carratt is accused of driving his Acura Sedan, with a passenger inside, at a high rate of speed while under the influence of alcohol. Carrat is accused of speeding southbound on Pacific Coast Highway in Dana Point near the intersection of Shoreline Drive, taking a slight left turn, and losing traction of his vehicle.
Carratt is accused of losing control of his vehicle and continuing through the turn for approximately 200 feet before the rear of his vehicle struck 39-year-old Haitham Gamal, who was legally riding his bicycle southbound on Pacific Coast Highway. The defendant is accused of dragging the victim with the car for approximately 500 feet before hitting a curb at the intersection of Golden Lantern Drive, overturning his vehicle, and ejecting the victim.
Paramedics arrived and pronounced the victim dead at the scene. The defendant and his passenger were taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries. Carratt is accused of having a blood alcohol concentration of .15 percent while at the hospital.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigated this case and arrested the defendant on July 8, 2015.
Deputy District Attorney Stephen Cornwell of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.