Man accused of driving drunk with 1-year-old in vehicle

A 29-year-old man faces charges of drunk driving and child endangerment following a crash with a 1-year-old in the backseat in San Clemente, a sheriff’s sergeant said Tuesday.

Leonardo Daniel Garciahernandez slammed a vehicle into a light pole about 1:48 p.m. March 23 at 1513 N. El Camino Real, according to Orange County sheriff’s Sgt. Scott Steinle.

A 1-year-old child the defendant is related to was in the vehicle when it crashed, Steinle said. The baby was taken to an area hospital for evaluation, he said.

Garciahernandez was charged Friday with one count each of child abuse and endangerment, driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury and drunk driving with a blood-alcohol exceeding .08% or more causing injury, all felonies.

Garciahernandez had a blood-alcohol level of .21, nearly three times the legal limit, according to the criminal complaint.

Garciahernandez pleaded not guilty at an arraignment in the jail courtroom in Santa Ana and was ordered to return to court April 8 for a pretrial hearing in the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.