Driver in fatal DUI crash in Palm Springs charged with murder, pleads not guilty

The Oregon man who police say was responsible for the Monday crash in Palm Springs that killed a Chula Vista man and injured six other people has been formally charged with murder and DUI.

According to Palm Springs police, 41-year-old Andrew Watson Hibbard was speeding in a conversion van on Palm Canyon Drive on Monday night when he hit a Tesla that was stopped behind three other vehicles at the light at Alejo Road.

Hibbard's vehicle forced the Tesla into another vehicle and caused a chain reaction of collisions. The driver of the Tesla, Leon Reynoso, was later pronounced dead.

On Thursday, Hibbard appeared in court for his arraignment and was charged with murder and DUI causing bodily injury, both felonies. The DUI charge came with three sentencing enhancements for injuring multiple victims that could add a total of three years to Hibbard's sentence if he is convicted. Hibbard pleaded not guilty to both charges Thursday.

Hibbard was previously arrested by Palm Springs Police for a DUI in 2008. He spent five days in jail and was on probation for three years, according to Riverside County court records.

Court records from Multnomah County, Oregon, show Hibbard pleaded guilty to a DUI there in 2006. He was admitted to a diversion program and the conviction was later dismissed in 2008.

Hibbard's bail remains set at $2 million and has not been posted, according to court records.

Paul Albani-Burgio covers breaking news and the City of Palm Springs. Follow him on Twitter at @albaniburgiop and via email at paul.albani-burgio@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Man charged with murder in fatal DUI crash in Palm Springs