Update: Arraignment for Fatal Wrong Way Driver Scheduled Thursday

A 23-year-old man involved in a deadly wrong-way crash on the Riverside (91) Freeway following a night of drinking at a Newport Beach bar is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday, but the hearing might be delayed again due to a continuing medical hold, the Orange County district attorney's office reported today.

Ruben Gurrola, of Pomona, suffered at least a broken leg in the Jan. 29 crash that killed 53-year-old Kyung Namgoong, Deputy District Attorney Alison Gyves said. Gurrola was expected to be arraigned Monday, but that hearing was continued to tomorrow because of Gurrola's medical hold at the Orange County Jail, the D.A.'s office said.

Gurrola left a Newport Beach bar with his girlfriend Allison Poon, 24, after drinking for several hours with friends the night of Jan. 28, Gyves said. The two took a taxi to a friend's house, Gyves said. Gurrola later drove a Honda sedan with Poon in the passenger seat, Gyves said. About 1:40 a.m., Gurrola was driving east in the westbound lanes of the Riverside (91) Freeway when he crashed head-on into a Toyota sedan driven by Young Kim, 57, with Namgoong in the passenger seat, Gyves said. Namgoong was pronounced dead about 2:50 a.m. at a hospital. Kim suffered back and leg injuries while Poon broke her nose in the crash. A test at 3:15 a.m. showed Gurrola had a blood-alcohol level of .17 percent, more than twice the legal limit, Gyves said.

Gurrola is charged with second-degree murder, driving under the influence causing bodily injury and driving with a blood-alcohol level of .08 or more causing injury with sentencing enhancements and allegations for causing great bodily injury and causing injuries to more than one victim.

Gurrola, who is being held on $1 million bail, could face up to 19 years to life in prison if he is convicted.

City News Service contributed to this report.