SANTA PAULA : Driver to Be Tried in Brother’s Death
A Santa Paula man was ordered Wednesday to stand trial on charges stemming from a car accident in which his brother was killed.
After a preliminary hearing, Municipal Judge John J. Hunter ordered Robert Cantero, 27, to stand trial on charges of vehicular manslaughter, causing bodily injury while driving under the influence of alcohol and vehicle theft.
The California Highway Patrol said the accident occurred about 1 a.m. Nov. 27 on California 150 just north of Santa Paula. Cantero was driving south about 85 m.p.h. when he lost control on a curve, hit two parked vehicles and skidded into a power pole, the CHP said.
Cantero’s brother, Guadalupe Cantero, 29, was killed instantly, the CHP said. The driver and another passenger were also injured.
Deputy Dist. Atty. James P. Cloninger said the theft charge was filed after Cantero’s girlfriend told investigators that Cantero had taken her car without permission. The woman later said she no longer wished to prosecute and testified reluctantly at the hearing, Cloninger said.
No trial date has been set. Cantero is being held at Ventura County Jail with bail set at $5,000.
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