Man now charged with murder in suspected DUI crash that killed La Quinta teen
Gavin Nguyen
INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A man accused of a suspected DUI crash that killed a La Quinta teen has now been charged with murder.
Jose Villegas Orbe, 47, of Palm Springs, was back in court on Tuesday, where he received an additional charge of murder after the teen he struck with his car, Liam Cantu, died in the hospital. He was previously also charged with DUI causing injury, hit and run, and driving on a suspended license.
Villegas is being held in lieu of bail. He is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 4.
The crash killed Liam Cantu, a 14-year-old La Quinta High School freshman, as he was riding his bicycle with another teen on Highway 111 in La Quinta on October 10. The crash came as Cantu was excited to join the La Quinta High School baseball team.
According to authorities, Villegas had a history of DUI convictions. In a previous conviction, he had signed a Watson advisement, which could lead to a murder charge for the defendant if they cause a subsequent fatal DUI crash. When Cantu passed, that murder charge was added.
A second teen bike rider was also injured in the crash. They were released from the hospital to continue their recovery.
News Channel 3’s Gavin Nguyen was in the courtroom, he’ll have the latest on the case. Watch News Channel 3 starting at 4 p.m. for more.