Pedro Pantoja Jr., a 29-year-old, was arrested by the Irvine Police on Sunday, April 18, after he was involved in a fatal car crash which he fled from eventually causing a second crash in Irvine.
The first crash happened at about 8:45 a.m. at the 2800 block of Park Ave., near the Costco at the District at Tustin.
David Kawashima, a 62-year-old man from Orange, was killed in the first crash. He died at the scene.
As the Tustin police were responding to that accident the suspect fled. A police pursuit began and it ended with another crash when the suspect north in the southbound lanes of Jamboree Road and collided with another vehicle north of Warner Avenue.
Pantoja Jr. was arrested by the Irvine police on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, causing injury to his passenger while driving under the influence, vehicle theft, a parole violation and evading a police officer.
The Irvine police responded to the second crash scene after their help was requested by the Tustin police as the incident happened on the border of Irvine and Tustin.
Pantoja was hospitalized after he was arrested. A female passenger in the car he was driving was also hospitalized. There were no details given by the Irvine police regarding their injuries.
The Irvine police are requesting that anyone with information on the fatal crash please call Detective Roberto Solis at 949-724-7024. Anonymous tips can also be called in to the O.C. Crime Stoppers at 855-847-6227.
