| For Immediate Release Case # 11CF3348 December 14, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
MAN DRIVING ON SUSPENDED LICENSE ARRAIGNED FOR HIT AND RUN, RENDERING VICTIM IN COMA WITH SEVERE BRAIN INJURY
SANTA ANA – A man was arraigned today on charges of driving on a suspended license and causing another driver severe brain injury in a hit and run crash. Oscar Paz, 31, Huntington Beach, is charged with one felony count of hit and run with injury and one misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended license. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison. The defendant is being held on $50,000 bail and is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing Dec. 21, 2011, in Department C-57 at 9:00 a.m., Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
At approximately 5:00 a.m. on Dec. 11, 2011, Paz is accused driving at a high rate of speed in his Volkswagen Jetta in the California State Route 22 slow lane, approaching Magnolia Street. Paz is accused of driving with a suspended license for failing to appear in court for a speeding ticket. The defendant is accused of rear-ending the Nissan Pulsar of 66-year-old victim G. Krishnan. The victim’s vehicle was thrust across all freeway lanes into a center divider. Paz is accused of exiting the freeway without stopping to assist or offer help to G. Krishnan, knowing the victim might be hurt or in distress. The defendant is accused of parking his car in a nearby strip mall and fleeing on foot. He is accused of calling his wife for a ride home.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP), who arrived at the scene and found the defendant’s car nearby, investigated the case. Seven hours after the collision, Paz turned himself into the CHP Westminster office.
The victim sustained injuries to the head and was transported to University of California, Irvine Medical Center, where he remains in a coma in critical condition.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Alison Gyves of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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