| For Immediate Release Case # 11CF2028 August 2, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
SPEEDING DRUNKEN DRIVER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR KILLING ONE AND INJURING ANOTHER IN EARLY MORNING FREEWAY CRASH
SANTA ANA – A drunken driver will be arraigned tomorrow for killing his passenger and injuring an occupant in another vehicle after losing control of his car while speeding. Yannis Ismael Galanis, 28, Bellflower, is charged with one felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated, driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury with a prior conviction, and driving with a blood alcohol .08 percent or more causing injury with a prior conviction, with a sentencing enhancement allegation for causing bodily injury. Galanis has a prior conviction for driving under the influence in 2002. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 11 years and eight months in state prison. The defendant is being held on $100,000 bail and is expected to be arraigned tomorrow, Wednesday, August 3, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.
At approximately 12:50 a.m. on July 17, 2011, Galanis is accused of driving at a high rate of speed while under the influence of alcohol in his GMC pick-up truck southbound on the Interstate 5 near Disneyland Drive in Anaheim. The defendant’s friend, 29-year-old Edgar Murillo, was riding in the passenger seat. Galanis is accused of suddenly swerving from one lane into the next and crashing into a car driven by Olger A. Victim Viamey C. was riding in Olgar A.’s passenger seat.
Galanis is accused of losing control of his truck from the force of the crash and traveling up a dirt embankment before hitting a concrete bridge abutment head-on. The defendant’s truck then re-entered traffic lanes before finally coming to a stop on the freeway.
The California Highway Patrol responded to the scene. Galanis is accused of being found unconscious by CHP officers with a cut to his head. He was transported to the hospital. Approximately three hours after the crash, the defendant is accused of having a blood alcohol level of .11 percent.
Murillo was also unconscious when officers arrived and was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:15 a.m. Viamey C. was transported to the hospital to be treated for pain to her upper back, neck, and ribs. Olger A. complained of pain to his neck but was not transported from the scene to the hospital.
Deputy District Attorney Nancy Hayashida of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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