A pregnant woman hit by a DUI driver has lost her unborn child in utero and is fighting for her life after a serious crash over the weekend in what a Deputy District Attorney called a tragic case.
Wednesday, Jose Uriostegui, 33, was charged with two counts of driving under the influence causing great bodily injury, felony hit and run with injury and driving without a license at his arraignment, where he pleaded not guilty.
Uriostegui was driving his Ford F150 eastbound on Highway 78 at Broadway early Sunday morning when he ran a red light and crashed into a grey Nissan Altima heading northbound on Broadway, Deputy District Attorney (DDA) Teresa Pham said. Escondido is located approximately 33 miles northeast of Downtown San Diego.
Uriostegui tried to flee the scene of the crash on foot and was detained by the Good Samaritans, who held him until police arrived, Escondido Police said.
The crash left the driver of the Altima, 27-year-old Lucrecia Vasquez, who was six months pregnant, fighting for her life. As of noon Wednesday, hospital officials said she remained in critical condition but suffered serious internal bleeding. Vasquez's passenger suffered several broken ribs.
A close friend told NBC 7 San Diego Thursday Vasquez is coming in and out on consciousness slowly.
In court Wednesday, Pham said the child Vasquez was carrying did not make it. She said they cannot file additional charges for that.
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"Given the facts of the law and the status of the law there is no law we can charge in regard to vehicular manslaughter that does not relate to an unborn child," Pham said.
Chris Saunders, Public Relations Manager for Palomar Health, said the family has set up a GoFundMe account for the funeral costs for the child and any additional healthcare costs for Vasquez. To donate, click here.
There is an immigration hold on Uriostegui, one of the reasons Pham argued he is a flight risk. The defense attorney and judge agreed to set bail at $1 million; the judge said the defendant poses a danger to the public and is a flight risk.
The investigation is ongoing and police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash or have additional information to call officer Mike Nelson at (760) 839-4407.
