By Redacción
Redaccion@latinocc.com
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Francisco Garcia (DOB 10/07/68), of Oxnard, has been convicted by a jury of second-degree murder for the DUI crash that killed Elicia Lopez-Hernandez in 2018.
The jury also found Garcia guilty of two felony DUI counts that caused great bodily injury to another victim, and felony fleeing the scene of an accident after causing serious injury. Several special allegations and aggravating factors were found true, including that the crime involved great violence, that the victim was particularly vulnerable, and that Garcia engaged in violent conduct.
On July 22, 2018, Garcia was driving eastbound on Pleasant Valley Road in Oxnard when he struck two disabled vehicles that were at the scene of an earlier traffic collision. Several people had exited their vehicles to assist those involved in the first crash when Garcia’s car plowed through the scene, killing Ms. Lopez-Hernandez and seriously injuring another good Samaritan.
Garcia fled the scene on foot and was later located hiding on a nearby rooftop by Oxnard Police officers. His blood alcohol content (BAC) was measured at 0.24% several hours after the crash—three times the legal limit. Authorities confirmed he had been heavily drinking throughout the day.
Garcia had a prior DUI conviction from 2009 and had received a Watson advisement, a formal court warning given to DUI offenders in California that states if they drive under the influence again and cause a death, they may be charged with murder.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Edward Andrews, who prosecuted the case, emphasized the severity of the offense.
“The jury’s verdict today recognizes the devastating consequences of the defendant’s actions,” Andrews said. “The defendant took the life of a woman who only sought to help others, grievously injured another good Samaritan, then he fled rather than face what he did. After a long and challenging process, these convictions bring a measure of closure to the victim’s family. It also sends a clear message: repeated acts of drinking and driving can be deadly.”
Garcia is scheduled to be sentenced on August 6, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 26 of the Ventura County Superior Court. He faces a sentence of 22 years to life in California state prison.
