Suspected DUI Driver Accused Of Murder In Hit-and-run Death: DA

SAN JOSE, CA — A 28-year-old man arrested after a fatal San Jose hit-and-run Monday morning did not appear in court for a scheduled hearing Wednesday after being charged with murder in the case.

California Highway Patrol officers first observed Alexander Zumini of San Jose swerving and driving erratically in a BMW 325i at around 3:20 a.m. on southbound U.S. Highway 280. Officers followed him from Highway 280 onto southbound U.S. Highway 101, where he first accelerated away from officers at 80 mph, then slowed down as if to pull over, according to court documents.

When CHP officers turned on their patrol vehicles lights and siren, Zumini allegedly sped off at 120 mph. Dashboard cameras were activated in the patrol car at that time, according to court documents. Zumini exited Highway 101 at the Yerba Buena Road off-ramp, entered the intersection despite a red light and crashed into a gold Mazda minivan carrying driver Juan Salido and one passenger.

Salido, 43, was pronounced dead at the scene and his passenger was hospitalized with critical injuries in stable condition. Salido's wife was present at the arraignment on Wednesday at the Santa Clara County Hall of Justice, but declined to comment on the case.

Court documents indicate Zumini climbed over his passenger, Melissa Vincent, and ran out of the right front passenger door after his car came to a stop on the on-ramp to southbound Highway 101. He and Vincent were both arrested shortly afterward.

The CHP had sought charges of gross vehicular manslaughter, but the District Attorney's Office ultimately made the decision to charge Zumini with murder. Deputy District Attorney Michael Gadeberg said Zumini's "callous" and "intentional" actions supported to the upgraded charge.

"He really acted with completely disregard for the lives of everyone around him, including his passenger, and ultimately that decision led to the death of Juan Salido," Gadeberg said.

Zumini declined to be transported to the court hearing from jail, where he is currently being held without bail. He has also been charged with eluding a police officer and causing death, eluding a police officer and causing great bodily injury, hit-and-run causing death and hit-and-run causing injury.

The CHP believes he was also under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of the crash, but Gadeberg said drug testing results are still pending.

Zumini has not yet been assigned a defense attorney, according to court records.

—Bay City News