September Trial Date Set In Death Of Lyft Driver From North County [UPDATE]

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA – UPDATE: WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 3:20 p.m.

A Sept. 21 trial date was set today for a motorist who was allegedly drunk when he hit a Lyft car on state Route 94 and fatally injured the driver, who had been tending to a sick passenger on the freeway shoulder.

Steven Quintero, 24, is charged with murder, gross vehicular manslaughter and other counts in the death of 41-year-old Henry O. Reyes of Escondido.

Quintero, who has a prior DUI conviction from November 2015, faces 29 years to life in state prison if convicted, said Deputy District Attorney Cally Bright.

A passenger in the Lyft car, Kelly Hoffman, testified during a preliminary hearing last month that she and two friends were dropped off about 11 p.m. Sept. 30 and had drinks at a couple of downtown San Diego nightclubs before stopping for some gelato.

As they headed home about 1 a.m. in the Lyft car driven by Reyes, Sarah Smith got sick and the driver pulled onto the shoulder of the eastbound freeway near 28th Street to get her out of the car and give her some water, Hoffman testified.

Minutes later, the Lyft car was hit from behind and Reyes -- an aspiring dentist and the father of a 2-year-old child -- was killed as he walked around the car to get back in.

According to court testimony, Quintero was entering the freeway at 25th Street when he slammed into the back of Reyes' Kia. He walked away from the collision but was arrested nearby a short time later, authorities said. His blood-alcohol content was between .14 and .16 percent at the time of the accident, according to court testimony.

After his DUI conviction in 2015, Quintero completed a majority of required drunk driving classes and was on notice about the dangers of drinking and driving, Bright said.

Quintero will be back in court July 13 for a readiness conference.
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 7:16 a.m.

A trial date could be set today for a motorist who was allegedly drunk when he hit a Lyft car on state Route 94 and fatally injured the driver, who had been tending to a sick passenger on the freeway shoulder.

Steven Quintero, 24, is charged with murder, gross vehicular manslaughter and other counts in the death of 41-year-old Henry O. Reyes of Escondido.

Quintero, who has a prior DUI conviction from November 2015, faces 29 years to life in state prison if convicted, said Deputy District Attorney Cally Bright.

A passenger in the Lyft car, Kelly Hoffman, testified during a preliminary hearing last month that she and two friends were dropped off about 11 p.m. on Sept. 30 and had drinks at a couple of downtown San Diego nightclubs before stopping for some gelato.

As they headed home about 1 a.m. in the Lyft car driven by Reyes, Sarah Smith got sick and the driver pulled onto the shoulder of the eastbound freeway near 28th Street to get her out of the car and give her some water, Hoffman testified.

Minutes later, the Lyft car was hit from behind and Reyes -- an aspiring dentist and the father of a 2-year-old child -- was killed as he walked around the car to get back in.

According to court testimony, Quintero was entering the freeway at 25th Street when he slammed into the back of Reyes' Kia. He walked away from the collision but was arrested nearby a short time later, authorities said. His blood-alcohol content was between .14 and .16 percent at the time of the accident, according to court testimony.

After his DUI conviction in 2015, Quintero completed a majority of required drunk driving classes and was on notice about the dangers of drinking and driving, Bright said.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Witness In Death Of Lyft Driver From Escondido Testifies

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