RIVERSIDE — A 25-year-old motorist who killed a man in a fiery wreck while the defendant was driving under the influence on the Riverside (91) Freeway in Corona is slated to be sentenced next week to four years in state prison.
Christopher Magallon of Santa Ana pleaded guilty on Monday to DUI gross vehicular manslaughter under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. No charges were dismissed under the deal.
Superior Court Judge Gary Polk scheduled a sentencing hearing for March 7 at the Riverside Hall of Justice. The prosecution and defense stipulated a prospective sentence of four years, which the judge is expected to certify.
Magallon is being held in lieu of $75,000 bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.
He killed the victim, identified in court documents only as “J.C.,” on April 29, 2024, along the westbound 91, near the Interstate 15 interchange.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the defendant was at the wheel of a Lincoln Mark LT traveling at an unconfirmed speed about 12:30 in the morning, approaching the interchange, when he “veered to the right and struck the left rear” of a Toyota 4Runner.
“After the impact, the Toyota overturned and caught fire, with the driver trapped inside,” Officer Javier Navarro said.
Corona Fire Department personnel reached the location within a few minutes and extinguished the fully engulfed SUV in the fast lane. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. He was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
Magallon’s Lincoln was found broken down in the center divider. He was still in the pickup when officers detained him.
Navarro said evidence collected at the scene confirmed the defendant was drunk.
