“Three young girls are orphans because of the selfish decision of a stranger,” Orange County District Attorney
Todd Spitzer said in a statement. “Children should not have to grow up without their parents because someone decided to make the wrong decision and get behind the wheel while intoxicated.”
Coleman is facing two counts of murder, a count of driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury, a count of driving with a blood alcohol of .08% or more causing bodily injury, and a count of hit and run with injury all felonies. She also faces three felony enhancements of great bodily injury suffered by the couple’s daughters. Coleman has also been charged with a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol after her arrest on Aug. 29 in Laguna Beach, per the report.
By City News Service
Dec 10, 2020
SANTA ANA (CNS) - Second-degree murder, DUI and hit-and-run charges were filed today against a 22-year-old woman accused of driving drunk and causing a Newport Beach crash that killed a Santa Ana couple and left their three young daughters hospitalized.
Grace Elizabeth Coleman of Newport Beach, who has a prior conviction for driving under the influence, is facing two murder counts and one count each of driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, DUI with a blood- alcohol level exceeding the legal limit of .08% causing injury, and failing to stop at a hit-and-run accident with injury or death, all felonies.
Over $100,000 Raised for Sisters Orphaned in Newport Beach Crash
Fundraising efforts are underway for three children left orphaned after an impaired driver crashed into the family’s car in Newport Beach, California, leaving their parents dead and the kids injured.
Henry Eduardo Saldana-Mejia, 27, and Gabriela M. Andrade, 28, were killed Dec. 8 while driving with their daughters. Their children 5-year-old Sophia, 3-year-old Elena, and 1-year-old Samantha were dressed in pajamas for the outing. All three are being treated for undisclosed injuries at Memorial Hospital.
The 7:46 p.m. crash happened when a black Range Rover driving south on Newport Coast Drive collided with the victim’s Nissan Versa, which was turning onto Pelican Hill Road, police said.
Pictured, Henry Eduardo Saldana-Mejia, wife, Gabriela Andrade and their 3 children. Image via GoFundme.
“Hey, are you there? What happened?” And nobody answered me’
Coleman’s Range Rover is said to have hit the couple’s Nissan Versa which they were traveling in with their three children, aged one, three and five, at around 7.45pm on Tuesday.
The young children are reported to have been in the back seat of the car and later taken to hospital in a critical condition.
At the time of the crash, the family had gone with the father, who worked two jobs, to collect his belt and shoes from the Resort at Pelican Hill – where he worked as a houseman.
Henry Eduardo Saldana-Mejia, 27, and Gabriela Andrade, 28, from Santa Ana, California, were declared dead at the scene following a crash with previous DUI driver Grace Elizabeth Coleman.