Doctor to be charged with felonies for crash that killed two Santa Ana men

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 13HF3347: November 15, 2013

DOCTOR TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR KILLING TWO MEN IN CRASH BY DRIVING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON HIGHWAY

NEWPORT BEACH – A doctor is scheduled to be arraigned Monday for killing two men in a high-speed crash while driving into oncoming traffic on the highway. Robert McFarland Pettis, 48, Laguna Beach, is charged with two felony counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, one felony count of driving the wrong way on a divided highway causing death, and sentencing enhancements for inflicting great bodily harm. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of nine years and eight months in state prison. He is scheduled to be arraigned Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. in Department H-1, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach.

At approximately 6:40 a.m. on April 2, 2013, Pettis is accused of driving at a high rate of speed in his Tesla Model S northbound on State Route 133 in Laguna Beach. Pettis is accused of crossing over the double yellow lines into the southbound lanes and driving into oncoming traffic. He is accused of crashing head-on into a Honda Accord and killing 47-year-old driver Alberto Casique and his passenger, 38-year-old Armando Gonzalez. (Editor’s Note – the victims lived in Santa Ana, according to the Coastline Pilot).

Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene due to vehicular blunt force trauma as a result of the collision.

This case was investigated by the Laguna Beach Police Department. 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