Imperial Beach Man with Multiple DUIs Fatally Strikes Pedestrian: Police

CHULA VISTA, CA -- A 28-year-old Imperial Beach man with four prior DUI arrests allegedly drove his car up onto a sidewalk in Chula Vista street and fatally struck a pedestrian after leaving a nearby tavern, authorities said Dec. 5.

Witnesses told investigators that the allegedly intoxicated driver, whose name was not immediately available, was involved in two non-injury crashes in a parking lot after leaving a nearby bar Sunday evening.

He fled, returned a short time later, but again tore out of the parking area when confronted about the damage, according to a statement from the Chula Vista Police Department.

As he was leaving the parking lot a second time around 6:45 p.m. Dec. 4, he apparently lost control of his car, which hopped the curb, went up onto the sidewalk and struck a man sitting on a bus stop bench near the intersection of Orange and Third avenues. The force of the crash severed the pedestrian's leg and he later died from his injuries in a hospital, police said.

The driver was arrested and was subsequently booked into jail on suspicion of murder, manslaughter and DUI. Chula Vista police said the man had been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence four other times.

By City News Service/Image via Shutterstock