No-contest plea in director’s death
A driver pleaded no contest on Wednesday to vehicular manslaughter charges related to an accident that killed a noted film director and his son this year in Malibu.
Bob Clark, 67, who directed the cult classic “Porky’s” and “A Christmas Story,” died with son Ariel Hanrath-Clark, 22, while driving on Pacific Coast Highway early in the morning April 5.
Clark’s car was hit by a sport utility vehicle driven by Hector Velazquez-Nava, 24, of Los Angeles. Velazquez-Nava had a blood alcohol level of 0.24 -- three times the legal limit, authorities said.
Velazquez-Nava entered his plea before Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Belle Chen.
Velazquez-Nava, who is a native of Mexico and was in the U.S. illegally, according to federal authorities, faces up to six years in state prison. He will be sentenced Sept. 27.
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