Sonora Man Facing Vehiclular Manslaughter Charges Makes Court Appearance

By Bill Johnson Published Aug 24, 2005 10:10 am Updated Jan 31, 2009 02:30 pm

Sonora, CA — A man facing charges of Felony DUI and vehicular manslaughter stemming from a fatal car accident Friday made his first court appearance in the case Monday.

Police say 33-year-old Mark Hernandez was driving drunk when he drove his car at a high rate of speed into the rear of a pickup truck driven by 71-year-old David Lomeli.

Police reports indicate that the impact of the collision pushed the pickup across the westbound lane of Tuolumne Road, across a parking lot and over a large boulder and into a fence.

During Monday´s hearing the District Attorney´s office was successful in having Hernandez´s bail raised from $100,000 to $250,000 due to two previous drunk driving convictions on his record, in addition to a DUI arrest July 28th.

Hernandez is scheduled to be back in court next Wednesday.