Anaheim Man Pleads Guilty to Drunk Driving, Fatal Hit and Run

An Anaheim man pleaded guilty Tuesday to drunk driving when he fatally struck an elementary school crossing guard.

Patrick Robert McLaughlin, 43, changed his plea before his preliminary hearing in the death of John Antonio Vela.

McLaughlin pleaded guilty to one count each of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and hit-and-run causing death, Deputy Dist. Atty. Daniel Nixon said. There was no plea agreement.

McLaughlin, who faces a maximum sentence of 10 years and eight months, was scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 6.

McLaughlin struck and killed Vela June 8 as the 66-year-old crossing guard was escorting two young girls in a crosswalk near Lake Marie Elementary School. Police said Vela, a Pomona resident, was wearing an orange reflective vest and was carrying a stop sign.

Authorities said about a dozen children, most of them kindergarten age, saw the accident.

Witnesses told police that the driver was traveling about 50 m.p.h. and he swerved to avoid hitting stopped cars, hitting Vela instead.

McLaughlin drove to a nearby industrial park, where witnesses captured him and held him.