Richard Frost of Newport Beach Dies, Stewart Waithanji Arrested in Newport Boulevard DUI Crash [Costa Mesa, CA]

[UPDATE] Newport Boulevard Hit and Run Crash Leaves Richard Frost Dead

 
Costa Mesa, CA (April 14, 2021) – On Tuesday, 74-year-old Richard Frost of Newport Beach died, and police arrested 27-year-old Stewart Waithanji in a DUI crash on Newport Boulevard.
 
The fatal Costa Mesa crash took place at about 4 p.m. south of 17th Street.
 
Apparently, Waithanji crashed into a car driven by Frost.
 
Then, when Frost got out of his car and tried to stop Waithanji from driving away from the scene, Waithanji ran over Frost and fled.
 
Right away, rescuers took Mr. Frost to an area hospital, where he later died.
 
Meanwhile, Waithanji continued driving the Chevrolet Malibu and went to a Los Alamitos bar, where police arrested him.
 
Authorities charged Waithanji with single felony counts each of second-degree murder. This, along with driving under the influence of alcohol, and driving with a blood-alcohol level of .08% or more. They also charged him with two misdemeanor counts of hit and run with property damage.
 
His arraignment in Santa Ana was rescheduled for April 30.
 
Furthermore, Waithanji was wanted on warrants related to two other DUI cases in September and October 2019. Also, he was convicted in May and August of 2016 and in February 2018 in Iowa of driving under the influence of alcohol.
 
Normally, a driver accused in a DUI fatal crash faces manslaughter charges, but if they have a prior DUI conviction, they face an upgraded charge of second-degree murder.

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Sweet Lawyers would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Richard Frost. Our hearts are with you through these trying times.

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When to File a Wrongful Death Claim

 
As the loved ones of the victim grieve this tragic accident, Sweet Lawyers wants you to know that you do not have to face the aftermath alone.
 
Truly, it is important to recognize that if you lose someone in a hit and run crash, you may also recover damages through a wrongful death suit.
 
“Our goal is to safeguard the legal rights of families in the wake of catastrophic accidents. Insurance companies only protect their interests, which is why we protect those of our clients, ” explains Mark Sweet of Sweet Lawyers.
 
So, if your loved one died in a DUI crash, do not hesitate to reach out for help. The process of dealing with your loss, while fighting for justice, is never easy. Ultimately, this is necessary to alleviate some of the financial burdens after a fatal accident. We wish to make this process as easy for you as possible. Thus, for more information, call Sweet Lawyers at (800) 674 7852 for a free consultation with a legal professional.