DUI driver facing felony charges after his passenger was killed in a crash in Tustin

Anthony James Robles of Rowland Heights, a 28-year-old man, pleaded not guilty on Friday to charges related to a DUI crash that happened on the Costa Mesa (55) Freeway, in Tustin, last year.

Robles is facing many felony charges including second-degree murder, driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, a DUI with a blood-alcohol content higher than the legal limit of .08% causing injury and driving under the influence of alcohol and drug while causing injury.

He is being held on $1 million bail.

Robles was speeding south in a 2008 BMW 335i on the freeway in the No. 3 lane with Esperanza Cruz, 24, of Anaheim in the right front passenger seat just after 2 a.m. Feb. 23, 2021, when he slammed into the rear of a 2012 Lexus RX350 in the same lane just north of the Santa Ana (5) Freeway, causing the Lexus to overturn, according to the CHP.

Cruz was declared dead at the scene and the driver of the Lexus was hospitalized.

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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