Drunk Driver Found Guilty of Murder

A 48-year-old Van Nuys man with a history of drunk driving was convicted of murder Thursday for the crash that killed an Oxnard couple, officials said.

A Van Nuys Superior Court jury convicted Ramon Gonzalez of two counts of murder and two counts of gross vehicular negligence for the July 26, 1994, crash that took the lives of Aaron and Mary Hawkins, Deputy Dist. Atty. Michael Pargament said.

Gonzalez’s car ran a red light at Tampa Avenue and Topham Street in Reseda and barreled into the Hawkins’ car, knocking it 100 feet across the street. Aaron, 45, and Mary, 42, had six children and were returning from a family gathering.

Pargament said Gonzalez’s blood-alcohol level was 0.21%, well above the legal 0.08% limit, when he was tested by police two hours later. He had been convicted of drunk driving in 1988, which led prosecutors to charge him with murder, Pargament said.

Gonzalez faces 30 years to life in prison, Pargament said. His sentencing is scheduled for May 1.