| For Immediate Release Case # 09ZF0070
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Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
SERIAL DRUNKEN DRIVER FACES TRIAL FOR KILLING PEDESTRIAN AND INJURING ANOTHER DRIVER WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL
SANTA ANA – A drunken driver with three prior convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol faces trial today for killing a pedestrian and injuring another driver by causing a car crash in Santa Ana. Joel Torrejon Miranda, 42, Santa Ana, is charged with one felony count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated with prior convictions and a sentencing enhancement for fleeing the scene of a vehicular manslaughter. The defendant has three prior convictions for driving under the influence in 1995, 1997, and 2004. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years to life in state prison if convicted. Opening statements are expected to begin this afternoon, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010, in Department C-37, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.
At approximately 7:15 p.m. on Feb. 1, 2009, Miranda is accused of driving under the influence of alcohol southbound on Newhope Street in Santa Ana in his Chevrolet pick-up truck with two female passengers. He is accused of suddenly making an unsafe left turn across the northbound lanes in front of oncoming traffic. Victim Nguyen Tran, 36, was driving northbound on Newhope Street in his Mercedes-Benz sedan and hit his brakes, but was unable to stop in time to avoid colliding with Miranda’s truck. Tran’s car came to a stop and he called 911.
After crashing into Tran, Miranda’s truck went up the curb. Miranda is accused of hitting 44-year-old pedestrian Francisco Aquino with his truck. Miranda is accused of fleeing the scene, leaving his two female passengers seated in the vehicle.
Officers from the Santa Ana Police Department arrived at the scene and found several opened beer containers on the floor of the cab and bed of the truck. Aquino was transported to UCI Medical Center with severe head injuries. He died on Feb. 3, 2009. Tran suffered minor injuries to his arm and back.
Officers located Miranda at his home approximately 40 minutes after the crash. The defendant is accused of displaying objective signs of alcohol intoxication including emitting a strong odor of alcohol, slurring his speech, having bloodshot and watery eyes, and staggering as he walked. At approximately 8:50 p.m., more than an hour and a half after the crash, Miranda is accused of having a blood alcohol level of .23 percent, almost three times the legal limit.
Deputy District Attorney Jason Baez of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.