Manslaughter, DUI charges filed against Arcadia man who fatally struck road worker on 10 Freeway in Baldwin Park

POMONA — Officials charged an Arcadia man Friday with manslaughter and other charges for allegedly driving onto a closed freeway in Baldwin Park while drunk and fatally striking a 21-year-old road worker.
Tatsuhiko Sakamoto, 37, was charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, felony drunken driving and driving with a blood-alcohol level above .08, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Jane Robison.
Connor McDermott Penhall of Corona, son of motorcycle racing champion and actor Bruce Penhall, died in the crash, officials said.
He was performing road work as a Caltrans subcontractor just before midnight Wednesday when he was struck by a Toyota RAV4 driven by Sakamoto on a closed section of the westbound 10 Freeway at Francisquito Avenue, California Highway Patrol officials said.
Sakamoto drove by signs and cones warning of an upcoming freeway closure before striking Penhall, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to county booking records, Sakamoto was being held in lieu of $200,000 bail and was due for arraignment Monday in Pomona Superior Court.
If convicted as charged, Robison said, Sakamoto could face up to 10 years in state prison.
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