Murder-by-SUV Case Ends in a Declared Mistrial
A Yorba Linda man accused of running down a man after a fistfight was acquitted of first-degree murder Thursday by a jury in Santa Ana that also deadlocked, 10 to 2, for innocent of second-degree murder.
Travis Dixon, 21, was ordered to return to court next month by Orange County Superior Court Judge Carla M. Singer, who declared a mistrial on the lesser charge. Prosecutors are expected to announce then whether they will retry Dixon, who remains free on $250,000 bail.
Dixon was accused of running down Daniel How, 21, of Yorba Linda, with a sport utility vehicle on Oct. 14, 1999, and backing over him.
The victim and suspect were part of two groups that were in an arroyo near Lakeview Avenue and Orchard Drive, a place where young people hang out, police said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
