SAN DIEGO, Calif. (CBS 8) - A suspected drunk driver is denying charges he struck and killed a pregnant woman on New Year's Day.
Joseph Anthony Venegas, 40, is being held on $200,000 bail Wednesday after pleading not guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and two charges of DUI causing injury.
He is accused in the death of 21-year-old Elaina Luquis-Ortiz, who was six months pregnant, and seriously injuring two others.
Prosecutors say Venegas's SUV went off the 805 in the Webster area and slammed into a parked car on the side of the freeway.
His arraignment was delayed for 1 week while Venegas was placed on a medical hold.
According to prosecutor Corinne Miesfield, Venegas had a blood alcohol level of .25 - over three times the legal limit - when the crash happened.
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Monday, June 28, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
New information on man accused of deadly DUI crash
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (CBS 8) - The sister of a man accused of killing a pregnant woman while driving drunk spoke to News 8.
Rosemary Venegas says she's still coming to terms with the first-degree murder charges her brother, 40-year-old Joseph Venegas, has been booked on.
"We're all behind my brother, knowing the choice he made and the devastation that happened, we still love him and we're supporting him," Rosemary Venegas said.
The California Highway Patrol says the City Heights man was drunk and speeding down I-805 north near Home Avenue when he crashed his Chevy Tahoe into a Mazda RX-7, killing 21-year-old Elaina Luquis-Ortiz and her unborn around 3 a.m. on New Year's Day.
"I do know that he went to a party with some co-workers, that's what he told me. Other than that we don't know anything else," Rosemary Venegas said.
For the last two years, Joseph Venegas worked at a convalescent home preparing food. His sister says he is a soft-spoken, gentle man who loves dogs. She says he has no history of substance abuse and calls his actions completely out of character.
"We are very, very sorry and give our condolences to the family," Rosemary Venegas said.
Luquis-Ortiz was married and six-months pregnant when she loaned her Mistubishi Spyder to a 20-year-old Carol Silva for New Year's Eve. When the car got a flat, the Lemon Grove resident and her friend, 24-year-old Ivan Martinez, drove out to help. She parked her Mazda RX-7 behind the disabled car and were hit from behind while waiting for a tow truck.
"It's really hard. I wake up in the morning with an empty heart. I wake up destroyed," Luquis-Ortiz's mother Rhonda Zamora said.
Silva and Martinez are both recovering from severe injuries from the crash.
Joseph Venegas is currently being held without bail in the county jail and will face a judge for the first time on Wednesday.
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Rosemary Venegas says she's still coming to terms with the first-degree murder charges her brother, 40-year-old Joseph Venegas, has been booked on.
"We're all behind my brother, knowing the choice he made and the devastation that happened, we still love him and we're supporting him," Rosemary Venegas said.
The California Highway Patrol says the City Heights man was drunk and speeding down I-805 north near Home Avenue when he crashed his Chevy Tahoe into a Mazda RX-7, killing 21-year-old Elaina Luquis-Ortiz and her unborn around 3 a.m. on New Year's Day.
"I do know that he went to a party with some co-workers, that's what he told me. Other than that we don't know anything else," Rosemary Venegas said.
For the last two years, Joseph Venegas worked at a convalescent home preparing food. His sister says he is a soft-spoken, gentle man who loves dogs. She says he has no history of substance abuse and calls his actions completely out of character.
"We are very, very sorry and give our condolences to the family," Rosemary Venegas said.
Luquis-Ortiz was married and six-months pregnant when she loaned her Mistubishi Spyder to a 20-year-old Carol Silva for New Year's Eve. When the car got a flat, the Lemon Grove resident and her friend, 24-year-old Ivan Martinez, drove out to help. She parked her Mazda RX-7 behind the disabled car and were hit from behind while waiting for a tow truck.
"It's really hard. I wake up in the morning with an empty heart. I wake up destroyed," Luquis-Ortiz's mother Rhonda Zamora said.
Silva and Martinez are both recovering from severe injuries from the crash.
Joseph Venegas is currently being held without bail in the county jail and will face a judge for the first time on Wednesday.
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