A DUI suspect accused of killing a 14-year-old girl in Newport Beach was charged with her murder Wednesday.
The suspect was identified as Joseph Alcazar, 30, of Fontana, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. The victim was Rosenda Elizabeth Smiley, 14, from Rialto.
The crash happened on Saturday, May 25 near Balboa Boulevard and Palm Street at around 6:49 p.m., about a block away from the Balboa Fun Zone.
The girl was crossing the street on E. Balboa Boulevard with two other people at the time, Newport Beach police said.
An oncoming driver stopped to let the group of pedestrians cross the road. However, Alcazar decided to drive around the stopped car and continued through the street. That’s when his car struck Smiley as she was walking, while also running over the foot of a 13-year-old girl, officers said.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene where Smiley was pronounced dead.
