The man charged in Thursday’s police pursuit in Otay Mesa that ended a crash injuring himself and four others has been charged on 9-counts and ordered held on $500,000 bail.
39-year old Isaac Luquin, who suffered cuts and a fractured hip in the accident, was arraigned from his hospital bed on the 10the floor at Mercy Hospital.
He’s formally been charged with 3 counts of evading officers causing great bodily injury, 3 counts of reckless driving causing great bodily injury, vehicle theft, domestic violence battery and imprisonment, and violation of a domestic violation restraining order.
He’s facing 47-years 8-months in prison if convicted on all charges.
According to Deputy District Attorney Christina Arrollado, the incident actually started in the morning of May 7th. Luquin allegedly asked his estranged wife to borrow her car to drive two friends to a certain location. She agreed and drove the group. Once the two people were dropped off, Luquin allegedly forced his estranged wife from the driver’s seat into the back seat. She put up a fight and eventually jumped out, calling police.
Officers spotted the car later that evening, and that’s when the pursuit started. Luquin, now with two passengers in the car, allegedly drove in a bike lane to evade police, ran a red light and slammed into an SUV with two people inside.
The two others in the stolen car have not been charged in the case.
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According to the prosecutor, Luquin has three prior charges, including a 2015 domestic violence charge with his estranged wife that he was on probation for. He also had a 2005 domestic violence charge with another woman, and a 1998 conviction for witness intimidation.
Luquin appeared to be semi-sedated during the hospital arraignment, several times closing his eyes as if to doze off.
He has been ordered not to contact or communicate with his estranged wife.
A readiness hearing is set for May 18th. His preliminary hearing is set for May 21st.
