The Orange County Register reports that a Costa Mesa man with a prior DUI conviction has been charged with felony DUI and hit and run stemming from an incident in which he crashed his car into a woman and tried to flee the scene by running into the ocean.
James Arlen Peterson, 32, was formally charged with felony DUI causing injury and felony hit and run causing injury after he allegedly hit a 48-year-old woman standing next to her parked car on 30th street in Newport Beach. It is further alleged that Peterson has a prior conviction for DUI from 2003.
According to witnesses, Peterson attempted to flee the scene (hit and run) by driving his car in reverse into the water. Peterson then got out of his car and ran into the ocean. A lifegaurd had to rescue Peterson who was then taken into custody by the Newport Beach Police and booked on the DUI related charges.
Peterson entered a not guilty plea to the felony DUI and hit and run charges and is being held in Orange County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.
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