Santa Ana : Man Reporting Stolen Car Held in Fatal Crash
A man who reported his car stolen 20 minutes after it was involved in a pedestrian fatality Friday night was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident.
Police said a young man driving a car south on Bristol Street about 10 p.m. struck two pedestrians who were crossing the street at an authorized crosswalk at the 3rd Street intersection. The car was thrown into a telephone pole and the driver fled the scene on foot.
Adelalda Alvarez, 27, of Santa Ana was reported dead on arrival at UCI Medical Center. A friend, Jesus Campos Geronimo, 27, of Santa Ana, was listed in fair and stable condition Saturday at the Medical Center.
The man arrested was identified as Francisco Lopez, 18, of Santa Ana.
Police investigators traced the registration of the car to Lopez, but before he could be located, Lopez called the police and reported his car had been stolen.
A police spokesman said Lopez was arrested about 4 a.m. Saturday “after a very intense investigation” in which police determined that the stolen car report was a ruse to coverup his involvement.
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