Orange County DUI driver, 24, charged with murder after 100 mph crash

A 24-year-old Orange County man has been arrested on a murder charge in
connection with a DUI crash after authorities say he was driving at
speeds of more than 100 mph. 

The April 15 crash occurred on Pacific Coast Highway south of Warner
Avenue in Huntington Beach. 

Investigators said Lukas McHargue rear-ended 53-year-old Heather Lewis,
sending her vehicle off the roadway and into the Bolsa Chica Wetlands,
where it overturned and became submerged. Emergency personnel were able
to extract her from the vehicle and rush her to a hospital, where she
later died. 

“Investigators determined McHargue had been driving more than 100 miles
per hour shortly before the crash, at more than double the posted speed
limit,” Huntington Beach police said in a statement. “Evidence also
showed he had consumed alcohol and marijuana and was more than double
the legal alcohol limit.” 

McHargue had previously been warned about the dangers of impaired
driving and had acknowledged the risk it could kill someone, according
to investigators. 

“After reviewing the case, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office
filed one count of murder against McHargue,” the statement said. “Under
California law, a DUI-related death may be charged as murder when there
is evidence the driver knew impaired driving is dangerous to human life
and consciously disregarded that danger.” 

Members of the Huntington Beach Police Department’s Special
Investigations Bureau and Major Accident Investigation Team located and
arrested McHargue on July 15. 

Teen killed in Southern California crash in 1978 finally identified
He was booked into the Orange County Jail and remains in custody without
bail. 

“Driving in excess of 100 miles per hour, at more than double the posted
speed limit and with an alcohol level more than double the legal limit
is not an accident,” Police Chief Eric Parra said. “This was a series of
reckless choices that ended an innocent woman’s life.” 

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone who may have witnessed the
collision or events leading up to it is encouraged to contact HBPD
Traffic Investigator Vishal Rattanchandani at 714-536-5231. 

https://ktla.com/news/california/huntington-beach-dui-crash-murder-charge
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