A Hesperia man is accused of manslaughter after allegedly plowing a work van into a sedan while drunk in Phelan, killing a Victorville man, before fleeing the scene and being taken into custody following a police pursuit, officials said.
Mitchel Ray Leftwitch, 57, is accused of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI causing death, hit-and-run and recklessly evading police in connection with the crash, which took place just after 5 p.m. Monday along Phelan Road at Windermere Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The victim killed in the wreck was identified by CHP as Roy Austin Johnson Jr., 46, of Victorville.
The intersection of Phelan and Windermere roads in Phelan, pictured in an Google Street View image.
Leftwitch was at the wheel of a 2006 Chevrolet Express G2500 van with an attached two-axle trailer, heading east on Phelan Road, just prior to the collision, according to a CHP statement. Johnson was driving west on Phelan Road in a 2005 Toyota Avalon.
“For reasons still under the investigation, the Chevrolet Express G2500 crossed over the painted solid double yellow lines dividing the eastbound and westbound lanes of Phelan Road,” the statement said.
The van sideswiped to Toyota, then causing the Toyota to collided head-on with the trailer, officials said.
Johnson died from his injuries at the scene.
Phelan hit-and-run: Person killed, possible suspect detained
Leftwitch fled in the van, but was soon spotted by CHP officers and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies, according to CHP logs.
He refused to pull over, initiating a pursuit that came to an end with a PIT maneuver in the area of Capelin and Mesquite roads, according to CHP logs. He was arrested and treated for minor injuries prior to booking.
More: One man killed, another accused of DUI in Phelan multi-vehicle wreck
Bail for Leftwitch was set at $350,000 pending his initial court appearance, scheduled Friday in San Bernardino County Superior Court, records show.
Anyone with information can reach the CHP’s Victorville Office at (760) 241-1186.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Hesperia man accused of DUI, manslaughter in deadly Phelan hit-and-run