Driver Charged in Deadly Wrong-Way Torrance Crash

REDONDO BEACH, CA – An alleged drunk driver is charged with gross vehicular manslaughter, among others, connected to a wrong-way crash that killed a motorcyclist on the San Diego 405 Freeway in Torrance last week, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday.

Gabriel Anthony Fajardo, 22, of San Diego was northbound in the carpool lane of the southbound 405 Freeway near Artesia Boulevard on Feb. 4 when his pickup truck crashed into Nicholas Phillip Mann, 57, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Fajardo is charged with one felony count each of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage causing injury and driving with a 0.08 percent blood alcohol content causing injury, along with an allegation that he inflicted great bodily injury.

Fajardo, who is set to be arraigned March 8 at the Torrance courthouse, could face up to 10 years in state prison if convicted as charged, according to the District Attorney's Office.

City News Service contributed to this post; Image via Shutterstock