Man Extradited From Panama, Faces Charges In Fatal Irvine Cove DUI From 2014

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — A twice-convicted drunken driver was at last behind bars Monday on charges stemming from a third alcohol-fueled multiple-vehicle crash nearly eight years ago. In that crash, one man died and several others were injured.

Francisco Acuna Sanchez, 38, formerly of Rancho Santa Margarita, was extradited from Panama to face charges in Laguna Beach, where the crash occurred.

Laguna Beach police served a warrant on the defendant last Wednesday, according to court records.

The deadly crash occurred about 1:30 p.m. Jan. 26, 2014, on Pacific Coast Highway near Irvine Cove Drive, Laguna Beach police said.

Irvine resident Erik Valencia, 29, was died in the alcohol-fueled collision. He was a passenger in one of the cars involved. Five other people were injured in the crash and hospitalized with injuries ranging from minor to severe.

Records show that in 2016 Sanchez was charged with murder in the 2014 collision, two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs causing injury and a count of driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol level over the legal limit causing injury, with sentencing enhancement allegations of inflicting great bodily injury on two victims who survived.

The prior DUIs allow prosecutors to upgrade charges in a fatal crash from manslaughter, which includes a finite time in prison, to murder, which carries at least 15 years to life behind bars.

Sanchez pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol on April 20, 2010, and again on May 30, 2012, according to court records.

City News Service contributed to this report.