Dana Point, CA (November 18, 2025) – A tragic hit-and-run collision on Tuesday morning claimed the life of 13-year-old Luis Adrian Morales-Pacheco, a Niguel Hills Middle School student walking to school with his brother.
Accident Details: Deputies were called to the intersection of Park Lantern and Dana Point Harbor Drive around 8:20 a.m. Luis Morales-Pacheco was on the curb when a vehicle left the road, struck him, and fled. His brother, walking with him, was unharmed. The driver did not stop after the collision.
Luis was rushed to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Investigation: With the help of witnesses, deputies located the suspected driver a few miles from the scene. The suspect was identified as 59-year-old Bradley Gene Funk of San Juan Capistrano.
Investigators say Funk was on probation and has two prior DUI arrests. Funk was booked on multiple felony charges, including felony DUI, felony hit-and-run, and murder.
As part of the ongoing investigation, authorities will map the collision scene, documenting tire marks, curb impact points, debris, and vehicle paths to understand how the car left its lane.
They will also:
- Review surveillance footage from nearby intersections and businesses to track the vehicle’s path, confirm its speed, and verify when it left the roadway.
- Analyze vehicle damage to pinpoint the exact point of impact and estimate the forcefulness of the collision.
- Conduct toxicology testing to determine whether impairment contributed to the crash.
- Interview witnesses who saw the impact or the vehicle fleeing, helping to fill in details about the driver’s behavior and the vehicle’s movements.
Crash reconstruction is often utilized to evaluate driver behavior and roadway conditions. This strategy can help investigators determine how and why the vehicle entered the sidewalk and whether negligent or reckless actions directly contributed to the fatal outcome.
Legal Considerations: When a driver operates a vehicle while impaired, fails to maintain proper control, or allows the vehicle to drift out of its lane and onto areas meant for pedestrians, such conduct can be considered negligent because it violates the basic duty to drive safely and avoid foreseeable harm to others on the roadway.
For the family of Luis Morales-Pacheco, the findings of the investigation may support a wrongful death claim. Such a claim can seek compensation for funeral expenses, the loss of companionship, and the emotional suffering from losing a loved one.
My condolences to Luis Adrian Morales-Pacheco’s family, friends, and school community.
Source: ABC 7