Repeat DUI Driver Charged with Valentine's Day Murder

Posted by CotoBlogzz 02-18-2010 | 10:30 AM

SANTA ANA, CA - - Gustavo Adrian Vega, driving with blood alcohol content over twice the legal limit with a prior driving under the influence conviction, was charged today with one felony count of murder killing a 20-year-old passenger in another car in a high-speed crash.

Vega, 22, Costa Mesa, a student at Orange Coast Community College, is also charged with one felony count of hit-and-run resulting in death for fleeing the scene of this accident on foot, one felony count of possession of cocaine, and a misdemeanor hit-and-run involving another victim. He faces up to 15 years to life in prison if convicted. The defendant is being held on $1 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on the complaint on Feb. 18, 2010

On April 24, 2006, Vega drove while under the influence of an intoxicating substance. On Dec. 11, 2006, the defendant pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor driving under the influence charge.

On Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010, the defendant is accused of getting into a hit-and-run crash involving another victim. Vega is accused of knowingly fleeing the scene of this accident without exchanging identifying information with this driver.

Later that morning, the defendant is accused of driving on Flower Street towards Sunflower Avenue in Costa Mesa in his white 2008 Toyota Tundra. In the other car, male driver Ha Nguyen, 21, Santa Ana, was driving westbound in his 2003 gold Toyota Corolla on Sunflower Avenue with friend Cara Lee, 20, Santa Ana, who was seated in the passenger seat. At about 2:28 a.m., Vegas is accused of speeding through a red light while heading southbound on Flower towards Sunflower and hitting Nguyen's Corolla which was crossing the intersection on a green light. Nguyen was taken to Western Medical Center with minor injuries. Victim Lee was pronounced dead at the scene. The defendant is accused of causing the impact, which killed the victim. The defendant is accused of fleeing on foot and hiding in a nearby housing complex where Costa Mesa Police (CMP) found him shortly later.

Deputy District Attorney Jason Baez of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.