California man drives drunk causing head-on crash that kills 71-year-old man, police say

A California man drove drunk, causing a head-on crash that killed a 71-year-old man, and now police say the intoxicated driver has been charged with murder.

On Nov. 14, officials said 24-year-old Jose Fermin Lopez was the driver and only occupant of a 2009 Nissan Altima when he swerved out of his lane and into oncoming traffic, which caused him to hit a 1992 Mercedes-Benz driven by 71-year-old Steven Carlson.

Investigators determined the driver was drunk and Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce E. Dudley filed a felony complaint against Lopez on Nov. 17, KSBY reported.

Investigators did not release Lopez's blood alcohol content at the time of the wreck.

Lopez was charged with one count of murder, one count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, one count of driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury and one count of driving with a .08 or higher blood alcohol content causing injury, according to authorities.

He is currently in the hospital recovering his injuries from the collision, but officials said he was arraigned on Nov. 17 from the hospital.

His bail was set at $2 million, KSBY reported.