Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Man Charged with Murder in Fatal DUI Crash

A 36-year-old man has been charged with felony murder and other charges after causing a fatal crash while driving under the influence. Alexander Frank Ortega is also facing charges of driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury and driving under the influence of alcohol .08% or more causing bodily injury. The incident occurred on Tuesday night in Indio, California.

Ortega is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges on Friday afternoon at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.

The collision took place at around 9:45 p.m. on Indio Springs Parkway, east of Golf Center Parkway. According to the Indio Police Department, a white GMC pickup truck driven by Ortega crossed lanes and traveled against traffic, resulting in a collision with a white Saturn Sudan. The Saturn was occupied by a male driver and a female passenger.

Emergency responders had to extricate the occupants of the Saturn from the wreckage with the assistance of Indio Fire and Cal Fire. Both individuals were then transported to the hospital by ambulance. Tragically, the male driver, identified as 53-year-old Martin Gutierrez of Indio, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital at 10:25 p.m.

The condition of the female passenger is currently unknown.

Following the incident, Ortega was arrested and booked into the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio. He is currently being held on $2 million bail, according to inmate records.

The case serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers of driving under the influence. It is essential for individuals to always prioritize the safety of themselves and others on the road by refraining from alcohol or drug impairment while driving.

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