Defendant May Face Upgraded Charges in Hit-Run Crash

Defendant May Face Upgraded Charges in Hit-Run Crash

by Contributing Editor

A 48-year-old Santa Ana man charged in a hit-and-run collision with a wheelchair-bound victim could face upgraded charges following the victim’s death, officials said Wednesday.

Lucio Luna is charged with a felony count of hit-and-run with permanent and serious injury and a misdemeanor count of driving without a valid driver’s license, and is next due in court for arraignment July 29 in the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.

Luna is accused of crashing into 61-year-old Peter Finocchi, who was homeless, about 10:35 p.m. June 28 at First and Townsend streets, Santa Ana Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.

Finocchi was crossing First street in a crosswalk, Bertagna said.

The driver kept going, but a resident called police the next day to report a suspicious vehicle, which investigators determined was involved in the crash, Bertagna said. Further investigation led police to Luna.

Finocchi was rushed to a hospital in extremely critical condition and was later pronounced dead at 9:25 a.m. July 11, according to Carrie Braun of the Orange County Coroner’s division of the Sheriff’s Department.

Prosecutors are reviewing the case to consider additional or upgraded charges, said Kimberly Edds of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

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All credit goes to Contributing Editor
Originally published on https://mynewsla.com