Driver pleads guilty to second-degree murder for DUI crash that killed a motorist on the 15 Freeway in Corona

RIVERSIDE — A convicted felon who collided with a compact SUV on Interstate 15 in Corona while driving drunk, killing the 44-year-old driver, pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree murder.

Jorge Anival Gomez Augustin, 31, admitted the charge on Friday under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. No charges were dropped.

The plea deal was announced during a status hearing before Superior Court Judge Gary Polk, who scheduled a sentencing hearing for May 17 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.

The sentence stipulated under the agreement is 15 years to life in state prison.

Augustin is being held without bail at the Robert Presley Jail.

He killed Tommy Chu of Corona on northbound I-15 at Weirick Road.

According to the California Highway Patrol, about 3 a.m. on Feb. 12, 2022, the defendant was driving his Mercedes-Benz E-350 at an unknown speed when he struck the rear of Chu’s northbound Honda CRV that was just ahead of him.

“After the initial impact, both vehicles went off of the freeway, down an embankment and across the (Weirick) off-ramp lanes,” CHP Officer Juan Quintero said at the time.

He said the vehicles came to rest near the exit ramp.

Chu was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later by Corona Fire Department paramedics. He was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

Augustin was not injured and was given a field sobriety test by CHP officers, who determined that he was inebriated, Quintero said.

The defendant was taken into custody without incident.

According to court records, he has a prior conviction for importation and possession of a sawed-off shotgun.