Trial preparations underway in deadly 2004 freeway crash
After two days of pretrial motions, lawyers will return to court next month to further prepare for a murder trial stemming from a 2004 deadly crash on the 10 Freeway.
If motions are completed Dec. 1, then lawyers could begin jury selection the next day in a trial for Graciano Lopez in the death of 22-year-old Christopher Surjadjaja, prosecutors said.
The case was before Judge Colin Bilash for motions Wednesday and Thursday in San Bernardino Superior Court.
With Sheriff's deputies in pursuit on Nov. 10, 2004, the 32-year-old Lopez, a parolee, made a U-turn on the eastbound 10 Freeway and began driving against traffic.
Lopez' Honda Accord crashed head-on into Surjadjaja's vehicle on the Waterman Avenue on-ramp.
After two months at Loma Linda University Medical Center and several surgeries, Surjadjaja died from his injuries.
Graciano, of El Monte, faces eight felony counts, including murder, vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, evading police causing death, hit and run resulting in death and carjacking.
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