Costa Mesa man arraigned for killing brother and hurting nephew in DUI crash

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, March 13, 2013

DRUNKEN DRIVER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR KILLING BROTHER AND INJURING NEPHEW IN SINGLE-CAR CRASH

SANTA ANA – A drunken driver will be arraigned today for killing his brother and injuring his nephew by crashing his truck while driving at an unsafe speed. Felix Jacobo Brito, 37, Costa Mesa, is charged with one felony count of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated without gross negligence, one felony count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury, one misdemeanor count of driving a motor vehicle without a valid license, and sentencing enhancements and allegations for causing bodily injury and death to more than one victim and causing great bodily injury. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of seven years in state prison. Brito is being held on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned today, Wednesday, March 13, 2013, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.

At approximately 12:30 a.m. on March 11, 2013, Brito is accused of driving under the influence of alcohol at an unsafe speed on Fairview Street in Santa Ana. The defendant’s 47-year-old brother, Felipe Brito, was riding in the front passenger seat and 27-year-old nephew, John Andrade, was riding in the back seat.

As the defendant approached another vehicle lawfully traveling in front of him in the same lane, he is accused of veering to the right in his Toyota truck, crossing a curb, and then striking a light pole and a palm tree. He is accused of driving through a chain link fence and coming to a stop when the truck landed on its passenger side in a flood control channel.

Felipe Brito was pronounced dead at the scene. Andrade was taken to the University of California, Irvine (UCI) Medical Center to be treated for several broken ribs and other injuries.

Brito was taken to UCI Medical Center and released a few hours later to the custody of the Santa Ana Police Department, who investigated this case. At the hospital, Brito is accused of displaying objective signs of alcohol intoxication including emitting an odor of alcohol and bloodshot, watery eyes.

Deputy District Attorney Anna McIntire of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

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Tony Rackauckas, District Attorney
401 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701

Contacts:

Susan Kang Schroeder
Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718

Farrah Emami
Spokesperson
Office: 714-347-8405
Cell: 714-323-4486