CALIFORNIA: Repeat DUI offender David Garrison faces murder charge for killing Dennis Van Nguyen in DUI crash

DWI HIT PARADE Copyright 2020

A Bellflower man has been charged with murder for a fatal crash in Long Beach, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced on April 2, 2020.

David Michael Garrison (dob 10/2/81) faces one count each of murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury within 10 years of another DUI offense, driving with a .08% blood alcohol content causing injury within 10 years of another DUI offense and driving under the influence of a drug causing injury with an allegation of causing great bodily injury.

Arraignment is scheduled in Department S01 of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Long Beach Branch.

On March 23, Garrison allegedly crashed into a car while driving at a high rate of speed on Pacific Coast Highway and Anaheim Street, prosecutors said. The driver of the other vehicle, Dennis Van Nguyen, 64, died as a result of the injuries, prosecutors added.

The defendant faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years to life in state prison if convicted as charged. Bail is set at $2 million.

Deputy District Attorney Brittany Vannoy of the DUI Training and Prosecution Section is the assigned prosecutor.

The case remains under investigation by the Long Beach Police Department.

On Monday, March 23, 2020 at approximately 6:20 a.m., officers from the Long Beach Police Department were dispatched to the intersection of Anaheim Street and Pacific Coast Highway regarding an injury traffic collision between two vehicles, which ultimately resulted in the death of an adult male.

Upon arrival, officers located two vehicles with the passengers trapped inside the vehicles. The driver from one of the vehicles was not conscious and not breathing. The Long Beach Fire Department responded and administered medical aid to both drivers and the one passenger. One driver succumbed to his injuries at the scene and the driver and passenger in the other vehicle sustained injuries and were transported to a local hospital.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2003 Nissan Altima, being driven by a 38-year-old male resident of Long Beach, was traveling eastbound on Anaheim Street when it collided with a second vehicle at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway. The driver of the Nissan was traveling at a high rate of speed when he attempted make a right turn on Pacific Coast Highway. The driver lost control of the vehicle and collided with a 2009 Kia Spectra, which was traveling north on Pacific Coast Highway. The driver of the Kia succumbed to his injuries at the scene and was identified as a 64-year-old male resident of the City of Westminster. The passenger in the Nissan was also severely injured, and was identified as a 28-year-old male resident of the City of Wilmington.

The identity of the deceased male adult is being withheld pending the notification to the next of kin by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office.

The driver of the Nissan Altima was determined to be under the influence. Due to injury, the driver was not arrested and charges are being filed against him.

Booking No.: 5909064       Last Name: GARRISON       First Name: DAVID       Middle Name: MICHAEL

Sex: M       Race: W       Date Of Birth: 10/02/1981       Age: 38       Hair: BRO       Eyes: HAZ       Height: 509       Weight: 227
Charge Level: F   (Felony)
ARRESTArrest Date: 03/30/2020       Arrest Time: 1500       Arrest Agency: 1941       Agency Description: LONG BEACH PD

Date Booked: 03/30/2020       Time Booked: 1609       Booking Location: LBPS       Location Description: PD – LONG BEACH PD
BAILTotal Bail Amount: 2,000,000.00       Total Hold Bail Amount: 0.00       Grand Total: 2,000,000.00
HOUSING LOCATIONHousing Location: CJ

Permanent Housing Assigned Date: 04/07/2020       Assigned Time: 2114      

Facility: MEN’S CENTRAL JAIL
Address: 441 BAUCHET STREET       City: LOS ANGELES