SAN BRUNO – A 29-year-old San Francisco man was charged Wednesday with gross vehicular manslaughter and other felonies after allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs in a fatal collision on Sunday, authorities said.
The charges follow the arrest of Briand Dominguez Torres, who was allegedly behind the wheel when his vehicle collided with a light pole, resulting in the death of 22-year-old Eric Perez Ramos, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.
Dominguez Torres, who was arraigned on Wednesday, was also charged with felony driving under the influence of alcohol and felony driving with a blood alcohol content over the legal limit, with an enhancement for causing a brain injury or paralysis and misdemeanor possessing a controlled substance, prosecutors said.
Before getting in the car, both the driver and passenger had been drinking at a restaurant in San Bruno, where Dominguez Torres allegedly ingested between eight and ten Modelo beers, “a couple of swigs of tequila” and “two hits of cocaine,” prosecutors said. Neither passenger wore their seatbelt.
The solo-vehicle collision happened around 12:50 a.m. near the intersection of El Camino Real and the westbound Interstate 380 off-ramp, according to the San Bruno Police Department.
The driver crashed into a light pole after losing control of the vehicle while traveling 48 miles per hour in an area with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour, leaving him and his passenger with major injuries, authorities said. They were taken to an area hospital.
Perez Ramos suffered multiple brain bleeds and a “severe” spinal injury, prosecutors added. He died on Tuesday.
In addition to vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence, the driver was arrested on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance, according to police. He was later booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City.
Investigators found a “small amount” of cocaine in Dominguez Torres’s wallet, prosecutors added. A blood test taken while he was at the hospital placed his blood alcohol level at 0.25 and found that he had ingested cocaine.
“The San Bruno Police Department extends its condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased,” police said in a news release.
Anyone with information related to the case can contact the police department at 650-616-7100.
Dominguez Torres will next appear in court on Sept. 9 to enter a plea. He remains in custody on no-bail status.