Accused drunk driver killed woman helping crash, CA officials say. He’s convicted
An accused drunk driver has been convicted in a crash that killed a good Samaritan helping in a separate collision, California prosecutors say.
Francisco Garcia, 56, was found guilty of second-degree murder in the 2018 death of Elicia Lopez-Hernandez, the Ventura County District Attorneys’ Office said in a July 9 news release.
An attorney for Garcia did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment on July 10.
Garcia pleaded not guilty to all charges at his 2018 arraignment, court records show.
“The jury’s verdict today recognizes the devastating consequences of the defendant’s actions,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Edward Andrews said in the release. “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.”
On July 22, 2018, several people were trying to help with a car collision when Garcia approached in his car, prosecutors said.
He “plowed through the scene,” hitting two cars and fatally injuring Lopez-Hernandez, according to prosecutors.
Another good Samaritan was also seriously injured, prosecutors said.
Garcia ran from the scene and was later found “hiding on a nearby rooftop by the Oxnard Police Department,” prosecutors said.
When Garcia’s blood alcohol concentration was measured hours after the crash, it was 0.24%, or three times the legal drinking limit in California, prosecutors said.
“He had been heavily drinking throughout the day,” prosecutors said.
Garcia was previously convicted of driving under the influence in 2009 and was given a Watson advisement, a warning to convicted DUI drivers “that if they drive under the influence again and someone is killed, they could be charged with murder,” according to prosecutors.
In addition to second-degree murder, the jury found Garcia guilty of “two felony DUI counts that resulted in great bodily injury to another victim, and felony fleeing the scene of an accident after causing serious injury,” prosecutors said.
“After a long and challenging process, these convictions bring a measure of closure to the victim’s family,” Andrews said. “It also sends a clear message: repeated acts of drinking and driving can be deadly.”
Garcia is scheduled to appear in court for sentencing Aug. 6 and faces 22 years to life in prison, prosecutors said.
Oxnard is about a 60-mile drive northwest from Los Angeles.
This story was originally published July 10, 2025 at 5:29 PM with the headline "Accused drunk driver killed woman helping crash, CA officials say. He’s convicted."
