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Santa Ana, California – A 59-year-old San Juan Capistrano man is facing a second-degree murder charge after allegedly running over 13-year-old Luis Adrian Morales-Pacheco at a Dana Point intersection and fleeing the scene, authorities said Thursday.
Bradley Gene Funk, 59, was also charged with hit-and-run causing death in connection with the Tuesday morning collision. Morales-Pacheco, who lived in San Juan Capistrano, was walking to school with his brother when he was fatally struck near Dana Point Harbor Drive and Park Lantern around 8:20 a.m., according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. His brother was not injured.
Deputies found the teen with “pretty severe injuries,” Sgt. Lizbeth Gwisdalla said. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Sheriff’s officials said Funk drove his pickup onto a curb and hit the boy before fleeing. Witnesses helped deputies identify the truck and locate Funk about two to three miles from the crash site. Investigators believe he was driving impaired. Senior Deputy District Attorney Casey Cunningham said Funk was arrested within 10 minutes of the collision.
Funk’s scheduled arraignment at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana was postponed to Dec. 10 and will now take place in Department H1 of the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach. Orange County Commissioner Joe Dane ordered him held without bail, citing Funk’s history and his belief that the defendant poses a danger to the public.
“I have absolutely zero confidence [Funk] can control his behavior,” Dane said, referencing Funk’s two prior DUI convictions and his current probation status, which includes 180 days in jail hanging over him for any violation.
Funk’s court-appointed attorney, Joel Garson, told the court he had not yet received enough evidence to argue for bail.
According to court records, Funk accepted a plea deal in July 2021 resolving two DUI cases from 2020, both in San Juan Capistrano. He pleaded guilty to DUI charges and misdemeanor hit-and-run with property damage and was sentenced to 240 days in jail, with 180 days stayed pending completion of probation. He was also ordered to enroll in an 18-month multi-offender alcohol program.
The DUI convictions also triggered a Watson Advisory, which warns offenders that if they drive under the influence again and someone is killed, they may face upgraded charges — including second-degree murder.
What Compensation Can Families Seek After the Driver in a Deadly DUI Hit-and-Run Is Identified?
When police identify and arrest the driver responsible for a deadly DUI hit-and-run, families gain a clearer legal path to pursue a wrongful death claim. Through the support of a trusted car accident law firm, relatives may recover both economic and non-economic damages connected to the loss. Under California law, compensation may include funeral and burial expenses, medical treatment provided before death, loss of financial support, loss of household services, and significant emotional damages such as loss of companionship and guidance. Because DUI hit-and-run cases often involve aggravated conduct, damages are frequently higher than in standard negligence claims.
Families can pursue these claims with the help of a dedicated wrongful death attorney California, especially in cases involving intoxicated or fleeing drivers. Specialized legal representation—such as experienced hit and run accident attorneys, strategic dui accident attorneys, or a skilled pedestrian accident lawyer California when the victim was struck while walking—helps families prove liability, document the full scope of losses, and pursue maximum compensation. If the crash occurred in Orange County, working with a local car accident attorney Orange County CA ensures an understanding of county-specific court procedures and insurance litigation patterns.Megeredchian Law fights aggressively for families affected by fatal DUI hit-and-run crashes, taking fewer clients to deliver a more personalized, dedicated experience. For a free consultation, call (866) 359-0807.
