Man Charged With Running Down 14-Year-Old In OC In DUI Crash

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — A 30-year-old Fontana man was charged Wednesday with killing a 14-year-old girl in a drunk driving crash in Newport Beach.

Joseph Alcazar was charged with second-degree murder, driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol content exceeding the legal limit of .08 percent of more causing injury, all felonies, as well as a misdemeanor count of child abuse and endangerment.

Alcazar is accused of killing Rosenda Elizabeth Smiley of Rialto on Saturday when his car crashed with the pedestrian at Balboa Boulevard and Palm Street at about 6:45 p.m.

Smiley was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the criminal complaint, Alcazar is also accused of injuring another girl and endangering a third.

Alcazar's 8-year-old daughter was in his car at the time of the crash, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. The other victim was a 13-year-old girl whose foot was ran over.

Alcazar faces the upgraded charge of murder instead of voluntary manslaughter because he has a prior conviction for driving under the influence in March 2016 and another conviction for reckless driving in December 2020 in San Bernardino County. A murder conviction could result in a life sentence whereas a manslaughter conviction results in a set period of time in prison.

City News Service contributed to this report.