A 43-year-old Colorado man with experience as a volunteer firefighter in Los Angeles County has been arrested on suspicion of DUI and second-degree murder after a fatal collision in Dana Point, authorities said Monday.
The accident occurred at about 8:20 p.m. Sunday as both involved vehicles were driving southbound on Coast Highway south of Palisades Drive, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. The victim’s car, a 1999 Plymouth, was truck from behind by a 2019 BMW driven by Evan Madison Owen of Littleton, Colorado, sheriff’s officials said.
The victim, described only as an adult male, was rushed to a hospital by paramedics, where he later died. His identity was being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Sheriff’s officials said Owen was initially arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence while causing injury, “however, a second-degree murder charge was later included due to Owen’s knowledge of the danger of impaired driving. Owen had trained experience as a volunteer firefighter in the county of Los Angeles.”
Anyone with information about the accident was asked to contact the OCSD’s Traffic Bureau at 714-425-1860. Anonymous tips can be provided to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.