Community Corner
Arcadia Man Charged with Manslaughter in Death of Actor Bruce Penhall's Son
The man was allegedly intoxicated and driving on a closed section of the San Bernardino Freeway in Baldwin Park before the fatal collision occurred.
An Arcadia man was charged today with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated for allegedly driving on a closed section of the San Bernardino (10) Freeway in Baldwin Park and killing one of actor and motorcycle racing champion Bruce Penhall's sons, who was working for a Caltrans subcontractor.
Tatsuhiko Sakamoto, 37, was also charged with DUI causing injury and driving with a .08 percent blood-alcohol content, along with the allegation of causing great bodily injury.
He was expected to be arraigned Monday in Pomona Superior Court. Sakamoto remains jailed in lieu of $200,000 bail.
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Sakamoto is accused of driving a Toyota Rav4 through traffic cones on the westbound freeway at Francisquito Avenue about 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, hitting 21-year-old Connor Penhall of Corona. Penhall, who was operating a concrete saw for a Caltrans subcontractor, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Penhall's father portrayed Officer Bruce Nelson in the final season of the "CHiPs'' television series. He was also a champion motorcycle racer, a sport Connor also competed in. The actor went to the scene of the crash to identify his son. Sakamoto faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted, according to the District Attorney's Office.