Banker Arrested After Woman Is Killed in Crash

A driver suspected of being drunk ran a stop sign and rammed into the car of a couple returning home from a Christmas party, killing the wife and critically injuring the husband, police said Thursday.

The suspect, identified by police as a bank vice president, walked away from the accident with minor injuries.

Theresa Li, 53, and her husband, Stanislaus S. Li, 52, were less than two miles from their Darrow Drive home in Huntington Beach when their car was struck about 11:32 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Huntington Street and Atlanta Avenue, Police Lt. Ed McErlain said.

Theresa Li was pronounced dead at Pacifica Community Hospital in Huntington Beach, McErlain said. Her husband, a dock supervisor for Metropolitan Stevedore Co. in Wilmington, was taken to Western Medical Center-Santa Ana, where he underwent surgery for extensive internal injuries, hospital spokeswoman Margaret Edwards said.

His condition was upgraded Thursday afternoon to guarded, Edwards said.

Police arrested Edwin L. Keating, 64, a bank vice president, on suspicion of manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol in the accident, McErlain said.

Keating was taken to Pacifica Community Hospital, medically checked, then turned over to police, who took him to Huntington Beach City Jail, McErlain said. He was released on $10,000 bail Thursday morning, McErlain said.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 14 in West Municipal Court in Westminster.

Keating was driving his white, 1987 Toyota Camry north on Huntington Avenue, a small residential street near Pacific Coast Highway, when the accident occurred, McErlain said.

As Keating crossed the intersection of Atlanta Avenue, he failed to stop at a stop sign and ran headlong into the Lis’ brown 1987 Sterling, which was traveling east toward their home, according to police. It was unknown how fast either car was traveling.

A woman who refused to open the door at Keating’s two-story home in Huntington Beach said he was unavailable for comment.

“He’s ailing. I hope you can respect that,” the woman said from behind the closed door.

Stanislaus Li’s brother, Vincent Lee, 54, said the couple moved from Hong Kong 12 years ago. His brother had become successful, moving up swiftly at Metropolitan Stevedore since he was hired in 1981, he said.

In fact, the Lis had moved into their spacious, $600,000 home in the posh, gated Darrow Drive community about a year ago, he said.

Lee, an Irvine engineer, looked grim after he emerged from a visit with his brother Thursday night in the intensive care unit at Western Medical Center.

“He’s OK,” Lee said, shaking his head. “But we didn’t get to see the doctor.”

Louise Lee, the victim’s sister, added softly, “He’s recovering; he’s sleeping.”

The Lis’ son, a medical student in Wyoming, was en route to Orange County, she said.

Claudia Gonzalez, a co-worker of Stanislaus Li, said Metropolitan Stevedore officials learned of the accident when the county coroner’s office called looking for relatives.

“We were blown away,” Gonzalez said. “I just can’t believe it.”

Gonzalez said the couple, known among friends as teetotalers, had spent the evening at a Christmas party at Li’s company in Wilmington. They left about an hour before the accident, apparently taking Pacific Coast Highway rather than the freeway.

She said Thursday’s news of Theresa Li’s death shocked and saddened company workers. Although devastated over her death, many were relieved that doctors could save her husband.

“I understand he’s going to be all right,” Gonzalez said. “They are such a wonderful family. It’s such a shame.”

Company friends had inquired about visiting Li, Gonzalez said, but were told by hospital officials that they should wait a few days. Gonzalez said she was told that it would be three days before Stanislaus Li would be transferred out of the intensive care unit.

“He’s such a great guy,” she said. “Everybody loves him.”

Times staff writer Henry Chu contributed to this report.