VISTA — A man pleaded not-guilty in a Vista courtroom on April 4 for an alleged drunk-driving-hit and-run on March 28 that took the life of an 18-year-old Bonsall young man who was riding his bike in Oceanside, according to 10 News.
Hernan Lopez Gonzalez, 24, is accused of causing the death of David Mendez, 18.
Gonzalez was ordered a $1 million bail amount, but also has an immigration hold placed on him through the federal government’s Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agency, according to San Diego County.
Gonzalez faces four felony charges, including DUI vehicle manslaughter with gross negligence, hit and run causing death, and two DUI charges resulting in bodily injury, according to the county.
The victim was found when passer-by reported a bicyclist was facedown on the roadway at the 1300 block of Sleeping Indian Road in Oceanside, at just after 7 a.m. on March 28, according to police.
Mendez was airlifted to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla for treatment of massive head trauma, but he was pronounced dead the following day at 3 p.m., according to police and the county coroner’s release.
Investigators found vehicle debris at the scene of the fatality, which led them to identify the suspect vehicle as a black 1998 Plymouth Neon, said Lt. Leonard Mata of the Oceanside Police Department.
An officer in the area found the vehicle, and the driver, Gonzalez, was arrested on March 28 and booked into the Vista jail for charges of vehicular manslaughter, felony hit-and-run and felony DUI, according to Mata.
Police said that a 21-year-old passenger in Gonzalez’ car was arrested for public intoxication.
San Diego County Superior Court Judge Marshall Hockett set the next court hearing for April 12.
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