Anyone can make poor choices in life, especially when they are young. Getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol is a particularly poor choice. When someone drinks and drives, not only do they put themselves at risk, but they risk the lives of passengers and anyone else who has the misfortune of being on the road with them at the same time.
Pasadena Now reports that a young man who made such a choice will have to stand trial for the charges against him. At a preliminary hearing held in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday, August 23, 2021, the judge ordered defendant Alberto Fernandez, 21, to stand trial for allegedly striking and killing a senior citizen with his vehicle and fleeing the scene of the crash.
As we reported in a previous article, Fernandez was charged with allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol in the November 13, 2020 crash at the intersection of Orange Grove Boulevard and North Marengo Avenue.
Fernandez originally entered the plea of not guilty of the charges against him.
California Highway Patrol officers pulled Fernandez over in Monrovia for an unrelated traffic violation on the night of the crash. According to Pasadena Police Department Lieutenant Sean Dawkins, a few hours later, investigators were able to link Fernandez t the fatal hit-and-run crash that ended the life of a 64-year-old man.
Court documents indicate that an arraignment hearing for Fernandez has been scheduled for Tuesday, September 7.
The Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge has set Fernandez’s bail at $105.000 pending legal proceedings.
Anyone with any further information about the incident is being asked to contact detectives with the Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-4501 or L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
