CLEARLAKE — Prosecution”s witnesses took the stand Wednesday in the preliminary hearing of Alejandro Aurelio Arias, 29. The hearing will continue at 8:15 a.m. today in Lake County Superior Court.
Arias faces five felony charges including second-degree murder in relation to a Sept. 11, 2009 vehicle collision that resulted in the death of Charlane Hill, 41, of Clearlake. Two other women, including a child, also sustained major injuries in the collision. The crash occurred when Arias allegedly drove through a red light at the intersection of highways 29 and 175 in Lakeport. The prosecution alleges Arias was traveling at approximately 100 mph leading to the collision.
Arias pleaded not guilty to all five felony counts, including second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter and three counts of reckless driving and denied several special allegations. Deputy District Attorney John Langan called to the stand a portion of the seven witnesses he has scheduled for testimony in the preliminary hearing. Langan”s list of witnesses consists of law enforcement officers including investigations personnel.
Some testimony delivered Wednesday pertained to witness expertise and experience as related to investigation of the scene and subsequent investigation procedures and determinations. Officer Hamman, of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) testified to results of his investigation including skid patterns and impact impressions that led him to determine that Arias was traveling at about 100 mph going into the intersection and at about 85 mph upon impact the Hill”s Buick. at the time of impact, he determined that the Buick was traveling at approximately 17 mph. Langan is expected to call his remaining witnesses to the stand today.
