A 22-year-old man has been charged with hurling rocks at passing vehicles on the Costa Mesa (55) Freeway in Tustin, California Highway Patrol officials said Wednesday.
Ernesto Santana was charged Tuesday with seven felony counts each of assault with a deadly weapon and throwing a missile with the intent to do serious bodily harm, according to court records.
He pleaded not guilty and was ordered to return to court Aug. 9 for a pretrial hearing.
A CHP officer was dispatched at about 8:30 a.m. on July 29 regarding a pedestrian throwing rocks at passing northbound vehicles on the 55 Freeway just south of Edinger, according to CHP Officer Anselmo Templado. Seven victims reported damage that included cracked windshields, broken side view mirrors and dents and scrapes, Templado said.
Santana was found behind a K-rail near the southwest corner of the freeway at Warner Avenue in a construction area, Templado added.