Man sentenced in fatal drunk driving crash

A Costa Mesa man was sentenced this week to four years and four months in state prison for killing his brother and injuring his nephew in a drunk driving crash, the Orange County district attorney’s office announced Thursday.

Felix Jacobo Brito, 37, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Orange County Superior Court to one felony count of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated without gross negligence, one felony count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury, and one misdemeanor count of driving a motor vehicle without a license, according to the release. He received sentencing enhancements for causing great bodily injury.

About 12:30 a.m. March 11, Brito was driving drunk at an unsafe speed on Fairview Street in Santa Ana with his brother, Felipe Brito, 47, and nephew, John Andrade, 27.

As he approached another vehicle traveling in the same direction in the same lane, Felix Brito veered his Toyota truck to the right and ended up crossing a curb, hitting a light pole and palm tree and driving through a chain link fence before coming to a stop in a flood control channel.

According to the release, Felipe Brito died at the scene and Andrade was taken to UC Irvine Medical Center, where he was treated for broken ribs and other injuries.

Felix Brito was also taken to UCI Medical Center, where he displayed signs of having been drinking, including smelling of alcohol and displaying bloodshot, watery eyes, according to the release.

— Jamie Rowe

Twitter: @jamierowe3