Marine Charged in Mexico Traffic Deaths

A U.S. Marine was formally charged on Friday with four counts of murder and several lesser charges after a hit-and-run incident last month that left four Mexican children dead.

If convicted on all charges, Cpl. Francisco J. Lopez could be sentenced to life imprisonment.

“I’ve been involved here for 10 years and I’m not familiar with this type of incident in the past,” Lt. Cpl. Jerry Broeckert said.

Lopez, 21, was read the charges on Friday morning, Broeckert said.

On the evening of Dec. 30 Lopez was allegedly drag-racing his pickup through a residential neighborhood in Mexicali, a Mexican town near the United States-Mexico border, authorities said.

Det. Carlos Roacho of the Judicial Police in Mexicali said witnesses told police that Lopez was drag-racing with another car around 1 a.m. when his pickup spun out of control. Roacho said the truck ran over a curb, allegedly slamming into six children, ranging in age from 12 to 16. Three died at the scene. The fourth died later at a local hospital.

Lopez then drove across the border to Calexico, Calif. Police there pulled him over and cited him on suspicion of drunk driving, a misdemeanor. Police Sgt. Jill Tangedal said Lopez had a blood-alcohol level of .16, twice the state’s legal limit.

On Friday, the military charged him with reckless and drunken driving, four counts of murder through wanton disregard for human life and two charges of aggravated assault. Lopez was also charged with leaving the scene of an accident and obstruction of justice.

On Wednesday, a group from Camp Pendleton went to Mexicali to express their condolences on behalf of the Marine’s commander. The Marine team also spoke to the victims’ families about the charges Lopez might face.

Lopez, will remain in the brig at Camp Pendleton, where he’s been since Jan. 2, until a military equivalent of a grand jury decides if there is enough evidence to go to trial. But Broeckert said he expects Lopez to face a court martial within 90 days.

Lopez is from Salinas, Calif. He has a 4-month-old daughter.