Drunken driver in fatal La Verne crash pleads guilty to two counts of murder

POMONA - A 28-year-old drunken driver who killed two of his passengers after driving into a tree last year in La Verne pleaded guilty today to two counts of murder.

Alan Michael McConnell of Covina entered his pleas in Pomona Superior Court after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors. A trial in his case was set to begin this week.

He is scheduled to be sentenced April 22, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

McConnell's agreement with prosecutors carries a sentence of 15 years to life, which is half the penalty of 30 years to life he could have received if convicted in a trial.

McConnell is accused of driving into a tree in the median of Foothill Boulevard near Moreno Avenue at about 12:45 a.m. on Jan. 23, 2010.

Two of his passengers were killed in the crash: Telassie Dague, 22, and Renee Hardy, 20, both of Rancho Cucamonga. McConnell suffered only minor injuries.

McConnell's blood-alcohol content was measured after the crash at 0.15, nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08.

Before the accident, McConnell, Dague and Hardy had been drinking in the bar at the Chaparral Lanes bowling alley in San Dimas. They were reportedly on their way to another bar.

One of Dague's friends testified at a preliminary hearing last year that she pleaded with the group not to drive because all three were visibly drunk.

Before driving into the tree, McConnell collided with another car when he ran a red light at Foothill and Damien Avenue in La Verne.

The driver of the other car testified last year that McConnell appeared to pull over to the side of the road before speeding away at about 70 mph.

McConnell's car caromed off the curb on the right side of the street, then made a hard left turn across lanes into the median of Foothill, where it hit a tree, according to the driver of the other car.

McConnell faced prosecution for murder rather than vehicular manslaughter because he has a prior conviction for DUI.