Man pleads not guilty to felony counts in fatal collision

The felony charges against Riccardo Raul Saenz stem from a May 25 collision in which another man died. File photo

A man charged with two felony counts of DUI in a traffic collision that killed another driver entered a plea of not guilty on Friday.

Riccardo Raul Saenz, 33, entered the plea at his arraignment at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, said John Hall of the District Attorney's Office. Saenz had been scheduled to appear the previous four days but was not given medical clearance by jail officials to appear, Hall said.

Saenz was arrested on Aug. 1, more than two months after he was hospitalized following an accident in which his vehicle struck two other vehicles at the intersection of Newport Road and Menifee Road on May 25. Frank Dominguez, 63, of Menifee died in the collision. A Sheriff's Department spokesperson said at the time that alcohol was considered a factor in the accident, but no arrest was made while Saenz was hospitalized.

Saenz is scheduled for a felony settlement conference on Aug. 20. He is being held in lieu of $75,000 bail.

Charges against Saenz include gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI (alcohol and drugs) causing bodily injury.