Uber driver ordered to stand trial for California crash that killed pedestrian, injured several others

The case against a Los Angeles man, accused of intentionally crashing into pedestrians crossing Shoreline Drive in Long Beach before plowing into stopped cars at a red light last year, will go to trial after a judge Monday, July 15, ruled prosecutors had enough evidence against him.

Khalid Yagobbi, 47, faces a count of murder, four counts of attempted murder and four counts of assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the Oct. 14 crash that left 60-year-old Romelia Cuarenta-Aguilar dead and several others injured. Yagobbi was operating as an Uber driver when the crash occurred.

Superior Court Judge James D. Otto took several minutes before making the ruling.

“This is a very close case,” he said.

The judge also lowered Yagobbi’s bail to $100,000 on the condition Yagobbi wears a GPS monitor, surrenders his passport and driver’s license and does not drive.

Should the case make it to trial, jurors will likely be tasked with deciding whether the crash was an intentional act, or the result of a medical event.

Yagobbi was driving eastbound on Shoreline Drive with a passenger in the backseat when, without warning, his vehicle traveled into the westbound lanes of traffic at Chestnut Place and continued until he ran a red light at Aquarium Way, hitting a group of pedestrians before slamming into cars waiting at a red light on the opposite side of the intersection.

Yagobbi’s defense attorney, Michael Levin, in arguing for the charges to be dismissed, said the crash was a “horrible accident” that occurred because Yagobbi suffered a medical event while behind the wheel of his Chevrolet Bolt hatchback.

In the weeks leading up to the crash, Yagobbi had sought medical attention after experiencing brain fog and forgetfulness at least two to three times per week, but was never diagnosed, nor was he advised that he shouldn’t be driving, Levin said. Yagobbi had an MRI four days prior to the crash, but the results had not yet come in.

While in jail, Yagobbi has suffered multiple seizures. Daniel Gonzalez, a cellmate of Yagobbi’s who was recently released from jail, testified that Yagobbi would have a “deer-in-the-headlights” look in his eyes, would go stiff and would shake. At least once, Gonzalez said, Yagobbi had a grin on his face before he came to.

“I don’t think there’s any question he was having a seizure,” Levin argued.

Prosecutor Karen Brako, in arguing for the murder charge under the implied malice theory, said Yagobbi had knowledge of the effects of his condition, which was “significant enough that he sought treatment,” and continued to operate as an Uber driver. She pointed to a prior instance in which he described finding himself stopped in the middle of the freeway and people were honking at him.

She said surveillance video showing the crash, which showed the car making a “smooth transition” into the opposing lanes of traffic and avoiding another car in a left turn lane before continuing toward the scene of the crash, showed intent.

“He wouldn’t have been able to control the vehicle (if he had a seizure),” Brako said, “but its perfectly straight.”