Driver charged with killing 3 while drunk

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SANTA ANA, Calif., Feb. 13 (UPI) -- An accused drunken driver was in a California court Wednesday to face charges in the deaths of three women he allegedly ran over, prosecutors said.

Anthony Sanchez, 40, of Buena Park was jailed in Orange County on $500,000 bail following his arrest on charges of vehicular manslaughter, gross negligence and driving under the influence.

Sanchez was allegedly behind the wheel of a car that mowed down the three women Saturday night as they walked home from a neighbor's baby shower in Anaheim. The women, who were related to one another, were crossing the street at the time and were killed on impact.

The Orange County District Attorney's office said in a written statement Sanchez "is accused of failing to stop and barely slowing before crashing into the three victims at a high rate of speed."

Anaheim police arrested Sanchez a short time later and allegedly had a blood-alcohol level above .15 percent. Any level over .08 percent is considered legally drunk in California.