A man who has been previously convicted multiple times for drunk driving was charged March 14 with hitting and killing a pedestrian and leading police on a short pursuit in Orange, California.

Jonathan Lopez, 31, of Orange, was seen drinking alcohol and flipping off officers after officials claim he hit and killed a pedestrian Tuesday.

Mr. Lopez is being charged with a felony count of second-degree murder, according to Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer, under what’s known as the “Watson Advisement,” a warning given to those who have been convicted of a DUI that any future convictions that result in death can result in murder charges.

“An innocent man is dead because someone without a license who has been prohibited from driving because of his extensive DUI history decided to ignore every warning he was ever given that drinking and driving can be deadly and get behind the wheel while intoxicated,” Mr. Spitzer said in a press release Thursday.

The defendant was also charged with one felony count of hit-and-run with permanent injury or death, one felony count of evading while driving recklessly, one felony count of drunk driving (DUI) with three or more prior convictions, and one felony count of driving with a blood alcohol level of above 0.08 percent. He also faces one misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended license, according to Mr. Spitzer’s office.

He faces a maximum sentence of 18 years to life in state prison if convicted of all charges. The victim has not yet been identified by authorities.

According to the District Attorney’s Office, Mr. Lopez was allegedly driving in the 500 block of Tustin Avenue in Orange at around 11:15 a.m. March 12 when authorities claim he hit a man walking across the street and drove away from the scene.

Police found him a short time later. He then led officers on a short, high-speed chase, during which he ran a red light and blew through three stop signs, according to authorities.

Mr. Lopez has been convicted of driving while intoxicated five times since 2011, the district attorney’s office reported.

He pleaded guilty in December 2021 to one felony count of driving under the influence of alcohol, one felony count of driving with a blood alcohol level above 0.08 percent and one misdemeanor count of driving with a suspended license. He was sentenced to 16 months in county jail.