13-year-old boy killed in Dana Point crash, hit-and-run driver in custody for DUI, murder

DANA POINT, Calif. (KABC) — A 13-year-old boy who was on his way to school was fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver in Dana Point on Tuesday morning. The 59-year-old driver was booked for felony DUI, felony hit-and-run and murder.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department identified the suspect as 59-year-old San Juan Capistrano man Bradley Gene Funk, who was on probation. According to criminal records, he has two prior DUI arrests.

The boy was identified as Luis Adrian Morales-Pacheco of San Juan Capistrano. He was a student at Niguel Hills Middle School.

Deputies responded to the intersection of Park Lantern and Dana Point Harbor Drive around 8:20 a.m., according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

“What we know is that the 13-year-old boy was walking to school with his older brother at the time,” Sgt. Lizbeth Gwisdalla said. “The older brother is OK. He was not struck by the vehicle.”

The 13-year-old’s backpack could be seen on the ground at the scene where investigators say a vehicle jumped the curb, slamming into the teenager.

Detectives say Morales-Pacheco was waiting for the light to change so he could cross the intersection on his way to school.

Funk is suspected of DUI in the deadly crash. Investigators say he did not stop to render aid or call for help and instead fled the scene.

“As you can see, it jumped the curb right there. The 13-year-old boy was standing on the curb, waiting for the light, and it jumped the curb, went over the center median there, then corrected back onto the road and continued down towards Pacific Coast Highway,” Gwisdalla said.

Horrified witnesses helped detectives identify the vehicle and locate Funk.

“It was located about two to three miles from here. Thanks to some witnesses and whatnot, we were able to find them, and he was detained,” Gwisdalla said. “Unfortunately, the 13-year-old male was pronounced deceased at the hospital, and the suspect was taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence and some other charges that are going to be related to the incident.”

“It’s definitely a tragedy, and any way that you look at it, especially for the parents, it’s going to be a difficult situation, our worst nightmare, and our hearts really go out to them,” Gwisdalla said.

Eyewitness News watched as an 11-year-old girl, one of Morales-Pacheco’s friends from school, arrived with her mother and brought a bouquet of flowers and a candle to what has become a growing memorial where the deadly crash happened.

“I kind of wanted to support him and like, know he’s doing good, and know like, people are remembering him,” the victim’s friend, Ireland McGarvin, said.