Two friends were charged Wednesday with hit-and-run and other counts for allegedly engaging in an Irvine street race that injured a passenger in one of the cars.
Christopher Cabrera, 22, was charged with hit-and-run with injury, a felony, as well as misdemeanor counts of engaging in a prohibited speed contest, hit-and-run with property damage and driving without a valid driver’s license. He pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment in the jail courtroom in Santa Ana and was ordered held on $100,000 bail, according to court records.
Jennifer Olmosgonzalez, 22, was charged with a misdemeanor count of engaging in a prohibited speed contest. Her arraignment was postponed until Oct. 23 in the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.
Authorities said the defendants are work friends who allegedly took part in the race during their lunch break on Monday.
Cabrera was driving a Cadillac CTS and Olmosgonzalez was driving a 2019 Dodge Challenger on San Canyon Avenue, Deputy District Attorney Dan Hess said. The pair were allegedly traveling at about 80 to 90 mph when Olmosgonzalez’s fishtailed and rear-ended a Volvo at Laguna Canyon Road, Hess said.
The Volvo’s driver escaped injury but a passenger in the Challenger sustained some abdominal bruises, Hess said. Olmosgonzalez was also treated at the scene.
Cabrera has a prior conviction for kidnapping in a domestic violence case, according to court records. He pleaded guilty Nov. 13, 2018, to a felony count of kidnapping and was sentenced to 248 days in jail, but he had to do another 90 days in jail due to a probation violation in July, according to court records.
>> Want to read more stories like this? Get our Free Daily Newsletters Here!