DUI Driver Kills 71-Year-Old Woman, Injures Friend

A California driver, who authorities say repeatedly drove under the influence of alcohol, has been charged with killing a 71-year-old woman and seriously injuring her 76-year-old friend after running through a red light and crashing into their car.

Miguel Angel Gallardo, 45, Anaheim, is charged with one felony count of vehicular manslaughter by unlawful act with gross negligence while intoxicated, one felony count of driving under the influence causing great bodily injury, one felony count of driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or more causing bodily injury, one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol, and one misdemeanor count of driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or more.

He also faces sentencing enhancement allegations for causing great bodily injury, injuring more than one victim and having a blood alcohol level of .15 percent. If convicted, Gallardo faces a maximum sentence of 12 years and eight months in state prison. He is being held on $500,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned May 19.

On April 18, 2008, Gallardo is accused of consuming alcoholic drinks at a bar in Santa Ana. He is accused of swerving in his car as he drove northbound on the Interstate 5 (I-5). At approximately 1:10 a.m., Gallardo was pulled over in Anaheim on the I-5 at Ball Road by the California Highway Patrol. He is accused of having a blood alcohol level of .14 percent. The defendant was arrested and released the following day with an order to appear in court in May.

On April 28, 2008, while awaiting his May court date, Gallardo is accused of having alcoholic drinks at a friend’s house in Santa Ana and attempting to drive home in his GMC Yukon. At approximately 9:50 p.m., Gallardo is accused of speeding and running through a red light at the intersection of 9^th Street and Orangewood in Anaheim.

A Honda sedan, driven by 71-year-old Maria Lewis, was passing through the intersection legally on a green light with 76-year-old Teresa Reeger in the passenger seat. The victims were on their way home from work at Angel Stadium. Gallardo is accused of crashing his car into the driver side door of Lewis’ car as he raced through the red light, sending the victim’s car spinning. The victim’s car slammed into a block wall as a result of the impact. Gallardo’s car also spun and crashed backward into a wall.

Reeger suffered severe injuries including a fractured skull. Lewis was killed.