Man charged in fatal Irvine crash has recent history of driving citations
A Costa Mesa man accused of speeding through a red light and killing a woman and her granddaughter in a hit-and-run crash last week has a history of traffic citations in the past year that include breaking the speed limit multiple times, court records show.
The California Highway Patrol ticketed Alec Scott Abraham, 20, in March 2014 for driving a Ford Mustang at 80 mph along the 405 Freeway in Fountain Valley, according to court documents. Abraham still owes $322 for the ticket, court documents show.
In July, Irvine police cited him for an unsafe lane change on Jamboree Road near Michelson Drive, again while driving the black Mustang. That ticket also notes that Abraham was traveling at least 10 mph faster than the 45 mph speed limit.
On Jan. 3, Abraham was ticketed on suspicion of traveling at an unsafe speed, but the case’s outcome is still pending after he pleaded not guilty. Court records are unclear where in Orange County the incident took place and how fast he was driving.
Abraham also was cited in separate incidents in 2014 on allegations of not wearing a seat belt and failing to yield to an emergency vehicle, but both tickets were dismissed when the officers who pulled him over didn’t show up in court.
Now Abraham is facing two counts of felony vehicular manslaughter and one felony count each of hit-and-run and reckless driving in connection with the June 10 crash in Irvine. Authorities allege that Abraham was driving a speeding black Mustang when it ran a red light at Alton and Barranca parkways and slammed into the driver’s side of a Chevrolet Cruze.
Police have said they’re investigating whether street racing may have contributed to the crash.
The Cruze’s driver, Katherine Hampton, 54, of Lake Forest, was declared dead at the scene. Her 2-year-old granddaughter, Kaydence, was riding in the seat behind her and died of her injuries Sunday at a hospital, according to authorities.
The collision also injured Hampton’s adult daughter and 7-year-old grandson who were riding in the Cruze. They are in stable condition, authorities said.
The Orange County district attorney’s office alleges that Abraham fled the scene on foot after stealing a bystander’s cellphone. Irvine police arrested him in a Costa Mesa park the next day. He is facing an additional misdemeanor charge in the phone theft.
He appeared in court Monday but did not enter a plea. He is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday and is being held with bail set at $1 million. He could be sentenced to a maximum of 14 years in prison if convicted.
Abraham’s lawyer, Gary Pohlson, declined to talk Wednesday about his client’s driving record or the details of the Irvine case.