A suspected drunk driver, who police say has four DUI convictions and no license, struck and killed a pedestrian and then led Orange police on a chase before he was arrested Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.
The driver was arrested after a short pursuit that ended at Tustin Street just south of Adams Avenue, according to the Orange Police Department. He was later identified as Jonathan Lopez, 31, from Orange.
The incident was reported at about 11:18 a.m. in the 300 block of N. Tustin Street when a patrol officer located a man with traumatic injuries lying on the roadway, investigators said. The victim, who has not been identified, died at the scene.
Witnesses told police that the victim was crossing the street outside of a crosswalk when he was struck by the silver sedan, according to authorities.
About 10 minutes later, officers located a silver sedan with major front-end damage traveling north on Glassell Street at Katella Avenue and a pursuit ensued.
“The major front-end damage on the vehicle is probably one of the main reasons that our detectives were able to locate it so quickly,” Orange police Lt. Phil McMullin said. “We’re amazed that he was still able to drive the vehicle and then be in a pursuit for over a mile.”