Inland Valley

Authorities filed charges Monday, Oct, 17, against a driver accused of a hitting a taco stand in Pomona that left one man dead and 12 other people injured. The driver, who took off after the crash, later turned herself in.

Diana Beatriz Martinez-Umana, 25, of Pomona was charged with one count of vehicular manslaughter, two counts of hit-and-run resulting in death or serious injury and eight counts of reckless driving causing injury, said Matthew Krasnowski, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

She wasn’t arraigned Tuesday at Pomona Superior Court because she posted bond, a court official said.

Police don’t know yet if drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash because they’re still waiting for the toxicology report.

The charges stem from a hit-and-run crash in the 1600 block of West Holt Avenue which was reported to police at 7:42 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14.

The driver of a Nissan Sentra was heading east on Holt Avenue when she veered into westbound lanes and crashed into a taco stand, police said. She took off and officers searched for her. She returned to the scene more than an hour later and turned herself in, officials said.

Gilberto Cazares Payan, 52, died of blunt force injuries, according to the coroner’s office. Mejia didn’t know how many of the injured were still in hospital as of Tuesday.

Booking records show Martinez Umana was previously arrested by the California Highway Patrol Antelope Valley office on Nov. 20, 2021 for a felony but it didn’t show the charge. She posted bond for a $50,000 bail and was released the next day.

Authorities filed charges Monday, Oct, 17, against a driver accused of a hitting a taco stand in Pomona that left one man dead and 12 other people injured. The driver, who took off after the crash, later turned herself in.

Diana Beatriz Martinez-Umana, 25, of Pomona was charged with one count of vehicular manslaughter, two counts of hit-and-run resulting in death or serious injury and eight counts of reckless driving causing injury, said Matthew Krasnowski, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

She wasn’t arraigned Tuesday at Pomona Superior Court because she posted bond, a court official said.

Police don’t know yet if drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash because they’re still waiting for the toxicology report.

The charges stem from a hit-and-run crash in the 1600 block of West Holt Avenue which was reported to police at 7:42 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14.

The driver of a Nissan Sentra was heading east on Holt Avenue when she veered into westbound lanes and crashed into a taco stand, police said. She took off and officers searched for her. She returned to the scene more than an hour later and turned herself in, officials said.

Gilberto Cazares Payan, 52, died of blunt force injuries, according to the coroner’s office. Mejia didn’t know how many of the injured were still in hospital as of Tuesday.

Booking records show Martinez Umana was previously arrested by the California Highway Patrol Antelope Valley office on Nov. 20, 2021 for a felony but it didn’t show the charge. She posted bond for a $50,000 bail and was released the next day.

A 55-year-old Corona man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and other crimes on Tuesday, Oct. 18,  after the California Highway Patrol said he backed his car into a CHP motorcycle officer, who suffered minor injuries.

Prudencio Xajil Alvarado was also accused of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and driving while unlicensed, said Officer Javier Navarro, a CHP spokesman. Alvarado was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside, where bail was set at $50,000.

Just before 9:30 a.m., the officer pulled over Alvarado, driving a Nissan Maxima, on a traffic stop on Indiana Avenue in the unincorporated community of Home Gardens, between Riverside and Corona.

“As the officer began to dismount his motorcycle to contact the driver, Alvarado placed the Nissan into reverse and accelerated toward the officer,” Navarro said in a statement. “The Nissan collided into the motorcycle, disabling it, and subsequently causing minor injuries to the officer.”

Alvarado was given a field sobriety test and was arrested. A photo shot by Loudlabs News, a news agency the Southern California News Group often works with, shows an officer pulling two bottles of Jose Cuervo tequila out of Alvarado’s car.

The CHP asked any witnesses to call its officers at 951-637-8000.

A 55-year-old Corona man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and other crimes on Tuesday, Oct. 18,  after the California Highway Patrol said he backed his car into a CHP motorcycle officer, who suffered minor injuries.

Prudencio Xajil Alvarado was also accused of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and driving while unlicensed, said Officer Javier Navarro, a CHP spokesman. Alvarado was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside, where bail was set at $50,000.

Just before 9:30 a.m., the officer pulled over Alvarado, driving a Nissan Maxima, on a traffic stop on Indiana Avenue in the unincorporated community of Home Gardens, between Riverside and Corona.

“As the officer began to dismount his motorcycle to contact the driver, Alvarado placed the Nissan into reverse and accelerated toward the officer,” Navarro said in a statement. “The Nissan collided into the motorcycle, disabling it, and subsequently causing minor injuries to the officer.”

Alvarado was given a field sobriety test and was arrested. A photo shot by Loudlabs News, a news agency the Southern California News Group often works with, shows an officer pulling two bottles of Jose Cuervo tequila out of Alvarado’s car.

The CHP asked any witnesses to call its officers at 951-637-8000.

A Norco woman was killed and a driver seriously injured after they were ejected from a motorcycle that crashed in Riverside early Saturday.

At about 3 a.m., a 2020 Buell motorcycle driven by a 41-year-old man, also a Norco resident, was travelling along east Arlington Avenue heading towards Fairhaven Drive, according to Riverside police spokesman Ryan Railsback. The rider, driving at a high rate of speed, was unable to follow the curve in the roadway and struck the south curb, Railsback said.

Both the rider and the passenger were ejected from the motorcycle.

The passenger, a 37-year-old woman, sustained major injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Her identity was not released on Saturday pending notification of family.

The driver was taken to the hospital in critical condition, Railsback said.

Anyone with information on the crash can contact Riverside Police Department Traffic Detective George Anderson at (951) 826-8723 or Ganderson@riversideca.gov.

Q: Sad to say, but our daughter got a DUI.  She is in her 20s, works full time and has otherwise had no tickets. We just heard from the DMV that it may suspend her license. Can you please explain the DMV part?

G.N. Seal Beach

A: An arrest for DUI in California triggers a process at the DMV that can result in suspension of the driver’s license. This is referred to as “administrative suspension.” To get a hearing, it is necessary (in fact, critical) to contact the DMV within 10 days to make the request. If the hearing is timely requested, your daughter can continue to drive prior to the hearing.

At the DMV hearing, she can seek to defeat the DUI. Perhaps, for example, the arrest was illegal or the blood alcohol is below the threshold limit (and she was not impaired). Should the DMV decide to suspend, however, it still may be possible to obtain a restricted license, which allows driving to and from work, and to and from a treatment program (subject to a number of conditions). Bottom line, I encourage your daughter to promptly consult, if not retain, qualified counsel (if she has not already done so). Dealing with a DUI charge can be very challenging.

Q: I should have called for a taxi, but did not and got a DUI. It has been many years since I got a ticket and an otherwise upstanding citizen. What are the consequences? Blood alcohol was .09, so not much higher than the threshold.

L.D., Carson

A: At the end of the first question and answer above, I encouraged consultation, if not retention, of a qualified lawyer. I will start with that here. There may be a possible plea to a lesser charge and/or a challenge that could be mounted. You should at least evaluate with counsel your options, the risks and how much it may cost.

Research indicates a first offense DUI in California typically is treated as a misdemeanor. Punishment can include three to five years probation, a $390 to $1,000 fine plus penalty assessments, DUI school, a 6-month driver’s license suspension (carried out by the DMV) and installation of an ignition interlock device. Jail time can be ordered (for up to six months), but my impression is that this piece is not as common and, given your situation, probably would not occur. Above all, seek qualified counsel to carefully go over the matter, if not to retain one.

Ron Sokol has been a practicing attorney for over 35 years, and has also served many times as a judge pro tem, mediator, and arbitrator. It is important to keep in mind that this column presents a summary of the law, and is not to be treated or considered legal advice, let alone a substitute for actual consultation with a qualified professional.

Q: Sad to say, but our daughter got a DUI.  She is in her 20s, works full time and has otherwise had no tickets. We just heard from the DMV that it may suspend her license. Can you please explain the DMV part?

G.N. Seal Beach

A: An arrest for DUI in California triggers a process at the DMV that can result in suspension of the driver’s license. This is referred to as “administrative suspension.” To get a hearing, it is necessary (in fact, critical) to contact the DMV within 10 days to make the request. If the hearing is timely requested, your daughter can continue to drive prior to the hearing.

At the DMV hearing, she can seek to defeat the DUI. Perhaps, for example, the arrest was illegal or the blood alcohol is below the threshold limit (and she was not impaired). Should the DMV decide to suspend, however, it still may be possible to obtain a restricted license, which allows driving to and from work, and to and from a treatment program (subject to a number of conditions). Bottom line, I encourage your daughter to promptly consult, if not retain, qualified counsel (if she has not already done so). Dealing with a DUI charge can be very challenging.

Q: I should have called for a taxi, but did not and got a DUI. It has been many years since I got a ticket and an otherwise upstanding citizen. What are the consequences? Blood alcohol was .09, so not much higher than the threshold.

L.D., Carson

A: At the end of the first question and answer above, I encouraged consultation, if not retention, of a qualified lawyer. I will start with that here. There may be a possible plea to a lesser charge and/or a challenge that could be mounted. You should at least evaluate with counsel your options, the risks and how much it may cost.

Research indicates a first offense DUI in California typically is treated as a misdemeanor. Punishment can include three to five years probation, a $390 to $1,000 fine plus penalty assessments, DUI school, a 6-month driver’s license suspension (carried out by the DMV) and installation of an ignition interlock device. Jail time can be ordered (for up to six months), but my impression is that this piece is not as common and, given your situation, probably would not occur. Above all, seek qualified counsel to carefully go over the matter, if not to retain one.

Ron Sokol has been a practicing attorney for over 35 years, and has also served many times as a judge pro tem, mediator, and arbitrator. It is important to keep in mind that this column presents a summary of the law, and is not to be treated or considered legal advice, let alone a substitute for actual consultation with a qualified professional.

A suspected drunk driver was arrested early Sunday, Sept. 25, after he crashed and badly damaged a Pomona restaurant, authorities said.

The city red-tagged the Golden Ox at 1195 E. Mission Blvd.

“Nobody can occupy the building,” said Anita Gutierrez, the city’s development services director.

Authorities didn’t have an estimated cost of the damages.

The solo-vehicle crash was reported to Pomona police at 3:15 a.m. Sunday. Officers found the driver inside a Dodge Challenger, said Aly Mejia, a Police Department spokeswoman.

A 32-year-old Pomona resident, the car’s sole occupant, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, she said. He wasn’t injured and was cited and released Sunday afternoon.

A man was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Fontana early Saturday, though circumstances surrounding the collision were unclear.

The pedestrian was struck around 5 a.m. Saturday on Cherry Avenue, between Valley Boulevard and San Bernardino Avenue, said Fontana police Sgt. Kurt Schlotterbeck. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

His identity was not immediately released pending notification of family.

It was not clear if the victim was in a crosswalk when he was struck.

The road remained closed Saturday afternoon while authorities continued their investigation. Information on the suspect’s vehicle was not available on Saturday.