Mortally Struck in Santa Ana Pedestrian Crash, DUI Suspected
SANTA ANA, CA, (July 29, 2025) - A 66-year-old man was fatally struck by a suspected impaired driver Tuesday night in Santa Ana, authorities said. The collision occurred near the intersection of Bristol Street and Segerstrom Avenue.
John Valenzuela Luera, 66, lost his life Tuesday night after being struck by a suspected impaired driver in Santa Ana, authorities said.
The victim was identified as John Valenzuela Luera, a Santa Ana resident.
According to preliminary findings, Luera was walking in the traffic lanes shortly before 11 p.m. when he was hit. He was transported to a hospital, where he sadly died from his injuries.
The driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The investigation remains ongoing.
CRASH INVESTIGATION NEEDED
Drunk driving isn't just reckless—it's deadly, claiming 34 lives daily in the United States. All those deaths are preventable. In 2023, 12,429 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA).
Candice Bond, an experienced DUI accident attorney, was interviewed and provided her thoughts on incidents such as this one.
“Separate from criminal charges, a victim’s family may be entitled to compensation through a civil lawsuit against the responsible party,” said Bond, Managing Partner of Bond Legal and national analyst for The Legal Advocate.
“Serving as an advocate, an attorney can help compassionately guide a grieving family during this difficult time, protecting their legal rights, while ensuring that a drunk driver is held accountable for their reckless actions.”
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the outcome of the investigation, the family of John Valenzuela Luera may have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim, which could include compensation for funeral and medical expenses, loss of love and companionship, emotional suffering, and other damages.
“Wrongful death occurs when a person’s life is taken due to the negligence or misconduct of another individual or entity,” said Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal.
“When a fatal crash is caused by reckless behaviors such as impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding, or other unsafe actions, surviving family members may seek justice through a civil claim against the at-fault party.”
If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one due to a drunk driver, national legal analyst Candice Bond offers free consultations to guide you.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).