SANTA ANA – A drunken driver is scheduled to be arraigned today for murder following a hit-and-run crash that resulted in a woman’s death. Dallas Frank Reichstein, 46, Santa Ana, is charged with one felony count of murder and one felony count of hit and run resulting in permanent injury or death with a sentencing enhancement allegation for a prior strike conviction in 2014 for residential burglary. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 34 years to life in state prison. He is being held on $1 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned today, Feb. 27, 2015, at 10:00 a.m., in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.
At approximately 10:10 p.m. on Jan. 28, 2015, the defendant is accused of driving a Nissan Xterra Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) while under the influence of alcohol, westbound on West MacArthur Boulevard in Santa Ana. The defendant is accused of driving 54 mph in a 40 mph zone.
At around the same time, 59-year-old Pearleen Hopkins was crossing the street on West MacArthur Boulevard outside of the designated crosswalks.
The defendant is accused of slamming into Hopkins with his SUV and failing to stop and render assistance. The victim died at the scene as a result of the injuries she sustained from the impact of the vehicle.