Driver Sentenced For DUI Crash That Killed Laguna Hills Woman

TUSTIN, CA — A 27-year-old Santa Ana man pleaded guilty Thursday and was sentenced to more than seven years in prison for a drunken driving crash that killed a woman in Tustin.

Gerardo Joaquin Garcia Lopez pleaded guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury and driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol 0.08% or more causing injury. He also admitted sentencing enhancements of inflicting great bodily injury on two victims.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Larry Yellin sentenced Lopez to seven years and eight months in prison. Lopez has 754 days credit for time behind bars.

Lopez killed 67-year-old Rezvan Hekmat of Laguna Hills and injured Miguel Xum, a passenger in Lopez's vehicle, according to court records.

Tustin Police Department officers were called about the crash around 5 p.m. June 4, 2023, at Barranca Parkway and Tustin Ranch Road, according to Lt. Ryan Coe.

A woman in Lopez's vehicle avoided injury, Coe said.

Lopez ran a red light while going west on Barranca Parkway and slammed into the vehicle Hekmat was driving, causing both vehicles to bounce off other vehicles in the intersection, Coe said.

Hekmat was taken to a hospital where she was later pronounced dead, Coe said.

Lopez was hospitalized following the crash and was arrested when he was released, Coe said.

Lopez had a blood-alcohol level of 0.41, more than five times the legal limit, and was driving faster than 65 mph, according to the criminal complaint.

City News Service