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Drunk Driver Kills Boy, 13, on Way to School
21 Nov
Summary
- A 59-year-old man faces murder charges for a fatal hit-and-run.
- The victim, 13-year-old Luis Morales-Pacheco, was walking to school.
- The suspect has a history of DUI arrests and was on probation.
A tragic hit-and-run incident in Dana Point has resulted in murder charges against 59-year-old Bradley Gene Funk. The suspect is accused of fatally striking 13-year-old Luis Adrian Morales-Pacheco, who was on his way to school. Funk allegedly drove onto a curb, hitting the boy, and fled the scene before being apprehended by deputies miles away with witness assistance.
The circumstances surrounding the crash are particularly grim due to Funk's prior criminal record, which includes multiple DUI arrests. Records indicate he was on probation for a previous DUI offense that involved similar circumstances, including hitting parked cars and fleeing the scene. This history has led to widespread community concern about preventable tragedies.
Luis Morales-Pacheco was a student at Niguel Hills Middle School, where classmates remember him as a kindhearted individual who brought smiles to many. His death has deeply affected his school and the wider Orange County community, highlighting fears about the handling of DUI cases and the increasing number of alcohol-related road deaths.
