Man Accused Of Crashing Car Into South OC Family Released From Custody Wednesday

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA — The 54-year-old South Orange County man accused in a drug-fueled crash that killed an infant days away from his first birthday and seriously injured his parents in Rancho Santa Margarita has been released from jail without charges, the Orange County District Attorney's office reported.

While San Clemente resident Daniel Patrick Lenihan has not yet been charged for the crimes he is accused of, OC District Attorney Todd Spitzer said Wednesday his office is continuing to investigate the crash.

"The investigation is continuing into the death of 11-month-old Madden Ohlwiler, who was killed by a driver who drove onto a Rancho Santa Margarita sidewalk on Sunday," Spitzer said in a statement.

The deadline for prosecutors to file charges against Lenihan while in custody was Tuesday. Since Lenihan has not been charged by prosecutors yet with any crime, he was released from jail.

Spitzer said that Lenihan can still be charged at a later date.

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"Madden's parents were injured in the crash," Spitzer said in a statement. "The Orange County District Attorney's Office, working closely with the California Highway Patrol and the Orange County Sheriff's Department, has asked for expedited toxicology reports. Once the investigation is turned over to the District Attorney's Office, prosecutors from the Homicide Unit will review the totality of the evidence and make a determination on what crimes can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

"California law requires defendants be charged within 48 hours of his or her arrest. As such, the suspect in this case was released from custody pending further investigation. These cases are some of the most horrific we deal with and we appreciate the outpouring of support from the community as we continue to pursue justice for the victims in this case."

Lenihan was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and was being held on $100,000 bail before his release, jail records show.

The crash was reported at about 4:15 p.m. Sunday on Antonio Parkway, just south of Oaktree in Rancho Santa Margarita, the California Highway Patrol reported.

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Lenihan was behind the wheel of a 2016 Hyundai Sonata driving northbound on Antonio when he veered off the road and slammed into a family of three out for a walk that afternoon.

He reportedly hit 34-year-old Kyle Ohlwiler, 31-year-old Hayley and their 11-month-old son, who was in a stroller, the CHP said in a statement.

The infant, whose birthday was April 7, was later identified as Madden Robert Ohlwiler, the Orange County Coroner's Department said.

The family was taken to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, where the infant was pronounced dead, the CHP said.

According to a GoFundMe page established to benefit the family, both parents remain hospitalized. Kyle Ohlwiler was concussed and has stitches in his neck, while his wife suffered a fractured pelvis.

The GoFundMe page had raised nearly $175,000 as of Wednesday.

City News Service contributed to this report.