DUI driver sentenced for crash that killed his brother and hurt his nephew

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release,  Case # 11HF1960: September 18, 2013

DUI DRIVER SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS IN PRISON FOR KILLING BROTHER AND INJURING NEPHEW IN SINGLE-CAR CRASH

SANTA ANA – A drunken driver was sentenced yesterday to four years and four months in state prison for killing his brother and injuring his nephew by crashing his truck while driving at an unsafe speed. Felix Jacobo Brito, 37, Costa Mesa, pleaded guilty to the court yesterday, Sept. 19, 2013, to 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.

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

As the defendant approached another vehicle that was lawfully traveling in front of him in the same lane, he veered to the right in his Toyota truck, crossed a curb, and struck a light pole and a palm tree. He drove through a chain link fence and came 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.

Felix 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 displayed objective signs of alcohol intoxication including emitting an odor of alcohol and bloodshot, watery eyes.

Deputy District Attorney Anna McIntire of the Homicide Unit prosecuted 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

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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