The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a hit-and-run crash that killed a 13-year-old boy in Dana Point on Tuesday.
Deputies responded to the area near Park Lantern and Dana Point Harbor Drive after receiving reports of a car crash involving a pedestrian.
“This is probably one of our worst nightmares,” Sgt. Lizbeth Gwisdalla said. “Just as a human, to think that life could be snuffed out so young, so early in life. This is probably one of the most tragic incidents that our deputies have to respond to.”
When deputies arrived, they found a person suffering from injuries. The victim was taken to a local hospital and was later pronounced dead, the OCSD said. Deputies said the 13-year-old and his older brother were walking to school. His brother survived the crash.
“It appears that the suspect did jump the curb at which time he struck the juvenile,” Gwisdalla said. “He actually crossed lanes of traffic into opposite lanes of traffic, corrected back on the road and continued towards Pacific Coast Highway.”
Authorities said the driver fled the scene but was later detained. Deputies identified the suspect as 59-year-old Bradley Funk. Investigators accused him of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Court records show Funk is on probation for a DUI incident and hit-and-run case in Orange County from 2020.
The District Attorney’s Office claims Funk was arrested and charged in a separate DUI incident three days before the deadly crash in Dana Point.
No additional information about the victim was immediately available.
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