A Huntington Beach man has been arrested on a murder charge following an investigation into a fatal DUI crash that claimed the life of a 53-year-old woman earlier this year, authorities announced Wednesday.
The Huntington Beach Police Department (HBPD) arrested Lukas McHargue, 24, on July 15 after detectives located him in Oceanside. He was taken into custody and transported to the Orange County Jail, where he is being held without bail.
The arrest stems from an April 15 crash on Pacific Coast Highway south of Warner Avenue that killed Heather Lewis, 53.
According to investigators, McHargue rear-ended Lewis’ vehicle, sending it off the roadway and into the Bolsa Chica Wetlands, where it overturned and became submerged. Lewis was pulled from the vehicle but later died from her injuries at a hospital.
Investigators determined McHargue had been driving more than 100 mph shortly before the collision, at more than double the posted speed limit. “Driving in excess of 100 miles per hour, at more than double the posted speed limit and with an alcohol level more than double the legal limit is not an accident,” Huntington Beach Police Chief Eric Parra said. “This was a series of reckless choices that ended an innocent woman’s life.”
Authorities also said evidence showed he had consumed alcohol and marijuana and had a blood alcohol level that was more than twice the legal limit.
McHargue is charged with one count of murder. Investigators found that McHargue had repeatedly been warned about the deadly risk of driving under the influence, something he had acknowledged.
Under California law, a DUI-related death may be charged as murder when there is evidence the driver knew impaired driving is dangerous to human life and consciously disregarded that danger.
Anyone who witnessed the collision or the events leading up to it is asked to contact HBPD at (714) 536-5231.