Local News in Brief : Judge Orders Arrest of Ex-Boxing Champ

A warrant was issued for the arrest of former World Boxing Council superwelterweight champion Lupe Aquino after he failed to appear Wednesday in West Los Angeles Municipal Court to answer vehicular manslaughter and drunk driving charges.

Judge Rosemary Shumsky issued the bench warrant with $100,000 bail attached for Aquino, 25, who had been free on $2,500 bail. Aquino faces two charges each of vehicular manslaughter and drunk driving in connection with the deaths of Teresa Bello, 20, and Howard Thomas, 25, on Aug. 14.

The boxer was driving north on the San Diego Freeway shortly before 2 a.m. when he lost control of his 1985 Mercedes-Benz north of Chalon Road, authorities said. The car dropped 30 feet down an embankment and flipped over on Sepulveda Boulevard. Bello and Thomas were killed. Aquino was slightly injured.