police lightsTustin, CA — Carlos Gonzalo Coronel, a 40-year-old LAPD sergeant residing in Buena Park, has been charged with one felony count of driving under the influence causing great bodily injury and another count of hit-and-run resulting in death, tied to a February 1 crash in Tustin that killed 19-year-old Imanol Salvador Gonzalez. If convicted on all charges, Coronel may face up to six years in prison. 

Incident Details

The fatal crash occurred around the early morning hours near Nisson Road and Del Amo Avenue, where Coronel allegedly struck Gonzalez while he was walking in the street.

After the collision, Coronel reportedly left the scene despite significant front-end damage to his Chevrolet Silverado without calling 911 or notifying authorities. He allegedly directed his girlfriend, who drove him to his home, to avoid the crash site and later searched online for reports of the fatal hit-and-run.

Pattern of Concern

Coronel had previously pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor DUI charge and was sentenced to 129 hours of community service in September 2011. Records show he failed to complete this service and he had his probation revoked in December 2012.

Coronel’s recent incident adds to a troubling pattern of police misconduct cases involving impairment and crashes. It is particularly alarming when those sworn to “protect and serve” bypass the responsibilities that follow a fatal crash.

In California, under Vehicle Code § 20001 and 23153, drivers must stop at the scene of an accident resulting in injury or death and report the incident to authorities—failure to do so is a serious felony.

Seeking Accountability for Police Misconduct

We at the Sehat Law Firm were disturbed to learn of this incident involving Carlo Gonzalo Coronel and offer our condolences to the family of Imanol Salvador Gonzalez.

While criminal charges are significant, families impacted by police-involved DUI or hit-and-run deaths may also pursue civil claims:

At The Sehat Law Firm, we help families seek justice when those charged with protecting us break laws themselves, holding individuals accountable in court and advocating for safer standards in policing. If you or a loved one has been impacted by police misconduct or an in-custody incident, contact The Sehat Law Firm at (949) 825-5200 for a free consultation, or complete the form at the bottom of this page to discuss your case with our legal team.

Legal Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and should not be considered legal or medical advice, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship. Laws vary, and any referenced here may not apply to your situation. This article was created from secondary sources and may not be completely accurate. If you have any concerns, please contact us, and we’ll update or remove the post as needed.