OC man accused of killing 12-year-old on way to school had prior DUI convictions: officials

DUI driver who struck boy had prior convictions

The driver who struck and killed a 12-year-old boy walking to school in Dana Point has two prior DUI convictions.

DANA POINT, Calif. - A family is grieving after a 12-year-old boy in Dana Point was killed after he was struck by a suspected drunk with prior convictions, officials said.  

What we know:

According to the Orange County Sheriff's Department, the incident occurred around 8:20 a.m. at the intersection of Dana Point Harbor Drive and Park Lantern.

Authorities said the boy was on the way to school and was waiting at the crosswalk when he was hit by a car. He was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries.

The driver, identified as 59-year-old Bradley Gene Funk of San Juan Capistrano, initially drove away from the scene, but witnesses helped deputies to identify and locate the driver about two or three miles away.

Funk was arrested on suspicion of hit-and-run and driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Memorial grows for boy killed by suspected drunk driver

A community is grieving after a 12-year-old was killed by a suspected drunk driver with a prior conviction.

"The suspect does have prior convictions for driving under the influence, so he is going to be booked for murder," said Sgt. Lizbeth Gwisdalla of the Orange County Sheriff's Department. 

Funk was booked on suspicion of a hit-and-run, driving under the influence and second-degree murder.

Victim identified

The victim was identified as Niguel Hills Middle School student, Luis Adrian Morales Pacheco. He was 12-years-old.

Capistrano Unified said counselors and additional staff will be available to speak with students.

Luis Adrian Morales Pacheco via GoFundMe 

A GoFundMe has been created to help the family. 

Driver's past DUI convictions 

Funk has two prior DUI convictions. He accepted a plea deal on July 22, 2021, that resolved two DUI cases against him, according to court records. He was on probation until July 21, 2026, as part of the deal.

Funk pleaded guilty to misdemeanor hit-and-run with property damage and driving under the influence of alcohol for an incident July 13, 2020, according to court records. He also pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol on July 10, 2020, according to court records.

Both DUI cases occurred in San Juan Capistrano, with sheriff's authorities arresting him in one case and the California Highway Patrol in the other, according to court records.

As part of his plea deal, he was sentenced to 240 days in jail with 180 days stayed pending completion of his probation. He was also ordered to complete an 18-month multi-offender alcohol program.

Whenever defendants are convicted of DUI, they are given what is known as a Watson Advisory, which warns them that if they are caught driving under the influence again and someone is killed they face an upgraded charge from voluntary manslaughter to second-degree murder. A manslaughter conviction carries a set time in prison as punishment, but a murder defendant can only go free by winning parole.

Editor's note: The victim was previously identified as a 13-year-old boy. However, his mother provided clarification about his age during a Wednesday morning memorial service at the crash site.