Last Updated on May 15, 2019 by CCAR Staff
The man suspected of driving under the influence in a Pomona crash that resulted in the death of a 6-year-old boy pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including murder, on Monday.
Charges were filed against Franky Provencio, 19, of Pomona, on Thursday, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. He was charged with murder and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and causing injury within 10 years of a previous DUI offense.
Officials said Provencio also faces one misdemeanor count of possessing methamphetamine, and allegations of inflicting great bodily injury. Provencio had been previously convicted of driving under the influence of a drug in January.
Provencio is next scheduled to appear at the Pomona branch of the Los Angeles County Superior Court on June 5. He is currently being held at the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles with a bail of $2.63 million.
The crash happened on the afternoon of May 7 when, police said, the vehicle Provencio was driving crossed the center divider of White Avenue near McKinley Avenue and crashed into a vehicle on the opposite side of the road, injuring the driver and killing a child passenger.
Provencio’s passenger was treated at a local hospital the day of the crash and released.
The child, identified as Julian Anthony George, a 6-year-old from Upland, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Both drivers were transported to the hospital after the crash, and Provencio was arrested after he was released from the hospital on Friday.
Police said Julian was not properly fastened into a child seat, and that the driver of the vehicle he was in, Peter George, of Upland, also had consumed alcohol prior to the crash. The Pomona Police Department said last week that it was working to determine George’s level of intoxication at the time of the crash.
“Traffic investigators are waiting for toxicology results and have some additional follow-up to do related to Mr. George,” said Sgt. Alyssa Bostrom with the Pomona Police Department. “If our final determination is that Mr. George violated any laws, then we would submit the case to the District Attorney for review and consideration of filing any charges. If the DA filed charges, an arrest warrant would be issued. We are still actively working this case though, so no charges have been submitted to the DA’s Office.”
Julian’s family set up a GoFundMe to cover the costs of his memorial and medical costs for Peter George.
