An Irvine man has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence during a collision that left a man dead in Newport Beach two years ago, authorities said.
On June 10, 2022, George Hauser was riding a bicycle near the intersection of Villa Way and 32nd Street in Newport Beach when he was struck by a vehicle driven by 58-year-old Ronald Elston Benjamin, according to the Newport Beach Police Department.
Hauser was taken to a hospital, dying months later from his injuries.
Benjamin was arrested at the scene, and was suspected to have been under the influence of a drug, police said. He was released at the time, and was arrested again on July 1.
He was booked on suspicion of felony vehicular manslaughter, as well as driving under the influence of a drug causing injury and a misdemeanor count of child abuse and endangerment.
Newport Beach Police asked that anyone with information regarding the crash to contact Traffic Investigator Bill Hume at 949-644-3687.
City News Service contributed to this report.
