Drunk driver arrested for manslaughter

SANTA ANA – Late Sunday night, two people rode with Felix Jacobo Brito while he was intoxicated. Brito and one of his passengers are now in the hospital, while the other paid with his life.

Brito veered off the road into the ditch on the left of this photo late Sunday night

At 12:32 am early Monday morning, the 37-year-old Brito, of Costa Mesa, was driving southbound on Fairview Street towards Edinger. According to a Santa Ana police press release, he lost control of his vehicle and veered off the roadway and into the adjacent flood control channel. His brother, Felipe Brito, 47, apparently not wearing a seat belt and sitting in the front passenger seat, was ejected from the car.

Police and emergency responders at the scene found the ejected passenger, who was pronounced deceased at the scene, while Brito and the other passenger, later identifed as 27-year-old John Andrade, Brito’s nephew, were transported to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries.

Based on the initial investigation of the accident, Brito was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. After treatment, he was booked into the Orange County Central Jail. According to the LA Times, he was showing signs of intoxication, including blootshot, watery eyes, and smelling of alcohol when he was admitted. He only spent a few hours there before being released to police custody.

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LA Times: Drunk driver killed brother, faces manslaughter charges, D.A. says