Venice Man Charged In Chase Crash That Killed PCH Landscaper

VENICE, CA — A Venice man who allegedly led sheriff's deputies on a brief pursuit and crashed a stolen car into a landscape worker on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, killing him, has been charged with four criminal counts, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced Thursday.

Kevin James Hicks, 22, is charged with one felony count each of vehicular manslaughter, fleeing a pursuing peace officer's motor vehicle causing death and driving or taking a vehicle without consent with a prior conviction, along with a misdemeanor count of driving when his privilege was suspended or revoked, according to Deputy District Attorney Paul Seo.

Hicks was convicted of grand theft auto in Kern County earlier this year, according to the criminal complaint.

He could face up to 12 years and 10 months in state prison if convicted of the charges stemming from the Nov. 29 crash that killed Juan Castillo, 28, who was walking on the right shoulder.

Hicks was behind the wheel of a stolen Mazda 6 that Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies had unsuccessfully tried to stop on PCH, according to the District Attorney's Office.

A supervisor from the sheriff's department called off the chase after 15 to 30 seconds because of the Mazda's speed and erratic operation, Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez said.

Hicks was rescued by deputies from the car after it crashed into parked vehicles and caught fire. He suffered moderate injuries in the crash, and was arrested Dec. 5 by deputies from the sheriff's Lost Hills station.

Hicks is tentatively scheduled to be arraigned Friday in a Van Nuys courtroom.

City News Service