In Santa Ana, a 60-year-old man from Huntington Beach has been found guilty of misdemeanor manslaughter in a fatal collision that took place in Fountain Valley two years ago. However, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the more serious charge of hit and run.
The conviction is for the incident that occurred on September 11, 2021, resulting in the death of 34-year-old Long Ta from Santa Ana. David Stephen Kennedy II, the driver responsible for the collision, has been found guilty of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.
After deliberating for around a day and a half, the jury deadlocked with a 7-5 vote in favor of acquittal for the felony hit and run with permanent injury charge.
Kennedy is set to be sentenced on October 6 for the misdemeanor, which carries a maximum penalty of one year. The judge ordered Kennedy, who was previously free on bail, to be taken into custody.
Deputy District Attorney Chris Cook informed the court that the prosecution intends to retry Kennedy on the felony charge. A pretrial hearing for this case is scheduled for November 9.
Family members of the victim were overcome with emotion when Kennedy was convicted in the courtroom.
According to trial briefs from prosecutors, witnesses saw Kennedy run a red light at the intersection of Edinger Avenue and Ward Street just before 6:20 a.m. two years ago. Ta was walking across Edinger in a crosswalk with a green light when he was struck by Kennedy’s van.
Ta was rushed to the hospital but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries on September 13, 2021.
A witness told the police that they saw the driver briefly pause before speeding away from the scene, as prosecutors stated.
On September 15, the police located a suspect vehicle in the parking lot of Fountain Bowl at 17110 Brookhurst St. When questioned, Kennedy claimed that he believed he had hit a rubber bumper cushion. Prosecutors revealed that DNA evidence from the victim was found on debris recovered from the vehicle at the collision site.
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