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Ernest “Sniper” Lugo of Westminster admitted one rely every of DUI gross vehicular manslaughter and driving beneath the affect of managed substances, with a sentence-enhancing nice bodily damage allegation, throughout a standing listening to Friday on the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.
Riverside County Superior Court Judge Stephen Gallon imposed the sentence stipulated by the court docket previous to the plea.
Lugo fatally injured 65-year-old Jose Montanchez Jr. of Hemet within the Oct. 22, 2023, wreck on Domenigoni Parkway at Alamar Mesa Drive.
The California Highway Patrol stated that Lugo was on the wheel of a 2016 Chevrolet pickup that entered the eastbound lane of Domenigoni whereas touring west at an unconfirmed velocity about 7:20 p.m. that Sunday.
“The pickup was going the fallacious approach,” CHP Officer Jonathan Torres instructed City News Service on the time. “A 2008 BMW was eastbound on Domenigoni, going the fitting approach, and the pickup collided head-on with the BMW.”
Montanchez’s BMW and the defendant’s pickup each sustained important injury. Debris from the affect was hurled onto a Nissan sedan trailing the BMW, however injury to that car was minor, in accordance with Torres.
County fireplace paramedics reached the placement minutes later and pronounced Montanchez dead on the scene.
Lugo and his passenger, whose identification was not disclosed, suffered minor accidents and have been taken to a regional trauma middle for remedy. The defendant was screened for alcohol or drug impairment, and officers verified Lugo had been driving beneath the affect. He was taken into custody with out incident.
The passenger was handled and launched from the hospital.
