Man accused of wrong-way crash arraigned at Sharp Memorial Hospital

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – The man accused of driving the wrong way on Interstate 15, causing the death of two people, was arraigned at Sharp Memorial Hospital Wednesday. The arraignment was held in the hospital as McDonald was recovering from his injuries. 

McDonald, 21, pleaded not guilty to two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and two counts related to driving under the influence.

Prosecutors said McDonald was driving drunk around 3 a.m. on Saturday.

He was going North in the Southbound HOV lanes near Mercy road when he smashed into an oncoming Honda Civic carrying a family from Escondido.

The driver in the Civic, 55-year-old Rudolfo de la Torres and his mother, 84-year-old Teresa Esparza Hernandez were killed.

Three other family members, two women and a man, ages 19, 21 and 23 were in the back seat and suffered major injuries.