Lake Arrowhead resident Joshua Adam Navarro, 25, has a pre-preliminary hearing August 3, at 8:30 a.m. He faces murder charges related to a Highway 138 head-on crash on May 17 near Phelan. (File Photo)
By G. T. Houts
San Bernardino, CA – Joshua Adam Navarro from Lake Arrowhead has a pre-preliminary hearing in San Bernardino County Superior Court on Monday, August 3, related to the fatal head-on collision on Highway 138 near Phelan that killed his 18-year-old passenger.
The crash — which killed Eliza Santibanez, of Highland, when she was ejected from Navarro’s black 1997 Honda Civic — on Sunday, May 17, sent Navarro and three others to area hospitals with critical injuries.
THE MURDER CHARGE
Navarro, who had a previous conviction for driving under the influence (2008), is now facing the murder charge, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and two counts of DUI alcohol/drugs causing bodily injury.
He has entered a plea of not guilty to all counts and has denied special allegations.
Bail has been set at $250,000 and Navarro is in custody at the West Valley Detention Center.
A preliminary hearing is set for Wednesday, August 5, at 8:30 a.m. in Department S-17P. (105)