A drunk driver caused a freeway accident that killed two people and then fled the scene on foot. (Photo: Fox 5 News)

Fatal hit-and-run crash: Police announced Tuesday that they had arrested a drunk driver who fled the scene after causing an accident that killed two people Sunday morning on Interstate 805 in San Diego.

•   A drunk driver crashed into a car on I-805 early and fled the scene on foot.

•   Two other vehicles — a pickup truck and a motorcycle — crashed into the wreckage.

•   Two people were killed and two others were hospitalized with serious injuries.

•   Police found and arrested the hit-and-run driver two days later.

The deadly DUI crash occurred shortly before 2:30 a.m., according to a CBS News report.

California Highway Patrol officer Art Athans said 28-year-old Pedro Antonio Sainz — who allegedly drank 17 beers before he got behind the wheel – lost control of his northbound 1994 Honda Civic on the 805 freeway.

Sainz’s car crashed into a 2005 Toyota Matrix driven by 66-year-old Ramiro Aguilar of Las Vegas. His 47-year-old wife, Bertha, and their 13-year-old son also were in the car. The Matrix flipped over and rolled several times before it came to rest in the middle of the freeway near Imperial avenue, Athans said.

Sainz then allegedly pulled over to the right shoulder, abandoned his vehicle, and ran away on foot, according to an NBC News report.

A 1997 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck driven by 27-year-old Fernando Garcia Guzman crashed into the wrecked Matrix, ejecting Aguilar and his wife out onto the roadway. Moments later, a Yamaha YZF motorcycle driven by 32-year-old Robert Manual Landa approached the scene and crashed into the pileup.

Bertha Aguilar died at the scene. Her husband suffered severe injuries and was transported to Scripps Mercy Hospital, where he died about eight hours later. Their son survived without any known physical injuries.

Guzman, who had been driving the pickup truck, was hospitalized with moderate injuries. Landa, the motorcyclist, was hospitalized with major injuries. Both were expected to recover.

CHP investigators located and arrested Sainz at his San Diego home Tuesday morning. He was being held in San Diego Central Jail on $150,000 bail.

UPDATE

Sainz was arraigned Thursday and pleaded not guilty to four felony charges, including gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, according to a CBS News report.

Deputy District Attorney Kristen Spieler called Sainz an “absolute menace” and said he drank 17 beers at a bar before he got behind the wheel, caused a double-fatal accident, and ran away from the scene.

San Diego Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented drunk driving accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.