San Diego Union Tribune reports that a man has been arrested on Wednesday for his role in a suspected DUI fatal crash. The defendant is accused of driving his SUV into a La Mesa adult daycare facility and killing a 41-year-old male pedestrian.
According to a statement given by La Mesa Police Lieutenant Greg Lunge, officers placed Daniel Joseph Corona under arrest on the charge of DUI in connection to a suspected DUI incident that happened on July 28, 2021.
The arrest report indicates that at approximately 5:30 p.m. on that date, Corona was driving eastbound in the 7300 block of University Avenue when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the Golden Life ADHC Center. A pedestrian was trapped between Corona’s SUV and the building.
Emergency crews and paramedics were called to the crash scene. The pedestrian was declared dead at the scene while Corona was still trapped inside his vehicle. After being extricated from his vehicle, he was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
After being treated, Corona was arrested on the charge of suspicion of DUI manslaughter. Police documents indicate that Corona was under the influence of a controlled substance at the time of the crash.
According to a police statement, Corona faces additional charges, including transportation of drugs and intent to distribute after officers investigating the fatal crash scene found quantities of controlled substances in Corona’s SUV. Authorities have not stated the type of drugs found in the vehicle.
A judge has set Corona’s bail at $1 million pending trial.
