A man who was allegedly drunk when he crashed a car into a light pole in Lincoln Heights, killing his cousin, was charged Wednesday with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
Jose Noe Lugo, 43, pleaded not guilty to the felony charge, as well as driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage causing injury and driving with a 0.08 percent blood alcohol content causing injury.
Lugo had just exited the Golden State (5) Freeway when the vehicle struck a light pole at about 3:20 a.m. Monday, according to prosecutors.
His cousin, Juan Mendez, was sitting in the front passenger seat and was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision.
Lugo allegedly left the crash site and was arrested by Los Angeles police when he returned. He has remained behind bars since then, according to jail records.
Lugo is due back in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom March 9, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.
If convicted as charged, he could face up to 10 years in state prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
— Wire reports