On Tuesday, August 25th, a 20-year-old Fullerton man pled guilty to three counts of felony assaults resulting from driving his car into a group of people in Orange, California. Richard Walter was sentenced to four years in prison immediately after the plea.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office initially charged the convicted man with attempted murder and hit-and-run with a permanent and serious injury. The DA’s office dismissed the charges after the then-suspect agreed to take the guilty plea for felony assault with a deadly weapon other than a gun.
Have you or a loved one been involved in an accident? Speak to a lawyer for a free no obligation consultation
Or call us at (888) 699-7975
Sgt. Phil McMullin of the Orange Police Department said that on March 31st, 2018, Walter drove into the group of people outside a party and struck one person. The man was a guest at the party, and the police said a dispute over a female seemed to have angered and pushed him into committing the offense.
Walter fled the scene after the accident, and the OPD later found and took him into custody. McMullin said that the occurrence seemed like a hit-and-run, but the investigation revealed that the convict purposely targeted the victim.
Motor vehicle accidents occur for several reasons, and while most of them are a result of negligence, they are rarely intentional unless for suicide victims. Law enforcement and traffic agencies advise people to avoid situations that would lead to collisions.
Drivers should make safety a priority at all times for themselves and other people on the roadway. Obey traffic rules and regulations, avoid road rage, and park the vehicle if feeling angry while behind the wheel.
Disclaimer: The Safety Watch article you just read includes information obtained from numerous sources. These sources include, but are not limited to, websites and press releases from law enforcement, the county coroner, fire departments, and other news outlets. While we strive to provide readers with the most accurate information, sometimes the information received is not entirely accurate. For complete details, please refer to an official police report.
The articles published contain sensitive subject matter that may be hard to read by some. We understand that losing a loved one is hard and devastating. Safety Watch’s decision to share the stories is to help others who may be facing the same situations by providing appropriate resources to the general public.