A Glendora man accused of striking two bicyclists and a car containing two good Samaritans who tried to follow him over the weekend pleaded not guilty Tuesday to eight felony charges, authorities said.
Anthony Pina, 19, was charged with four counts of assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of drunken driving causing injury and two counts of hit-and-run causing injury, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Jane Robison said. He was ordered to return to Pasadena Superior Court July 31 for a preliminary hearing setting.
The charges stem from an alleged spree of hit-and-run crashes that left two bicyclist injured, one of them seriously, according to Monrovia police and California Highway Patrol officials.
Monrovia police alleged that at least one of the bicyclists, a 63-year-old Duarte man, was intentionally run down by Pina. Police initially said investigators planned to seek a charge of attempted murder against Pina for that crash, however prosecutors did not include that allegation in the officials charges filed Tuesday.
Pina was drunk behind the wheel of 1997 Buick Regal shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday when struck a 46-year-old El Monte man who was riding a bicycle at Mountain and Schrode avenues in an unincorporated county area near Monrovia, CHP Sgt. Chris Hamilton said. The bicyclist suffered injuries described as moderate, and the Buick fled the scene.
Minutes later, Pina’s Buick struck the older bicyclist at Huntington Drive and Mountain Avenue in Monrovia, according to Monrovia police.
That crash, which left the cyclist hospitalized with serious injuries but expected to survive, was believed to be intentional, Alfaro said. Pina allegedly tried unsuccessfully to strike the 63-year-old bicyclist moments earlier a short distance away.
After striking the second bicyclist, Pina continued fleeing but was followed by two good Samaritans in a Mini Cooper who followed him and provided police with information as Pina headed east on the 210 Freeway, according to police and CHP officials.
Pina was suspected of ramming the car of the good Samaritans, causing no injuries, before crashing into the center divider and flipping his Buick near Vernon Avenue, Hamilton said. He ran from the wreck and was arrested nearby by Azusa police.
Initially held in lieu of $50,000 bail, according to county booking records, Robison said Pina’s bail amount was increased to $320,000 at Tuesday’s hearing.