A suspect accused of causing a 2017 fatal crash on the 14 Freeway while driving under the influence returned to court Thursday.

On Aug. 13, 2017, Joe Lopez, 25, of Little Rock, allegedly struck a parked car while driving on the 14 Freeway near Soledad Canyon Road, resulting in the death of Sam Edinburgh, 60.

Edinburgh was parked on the northbound 14 Freeway, north of Soledad Canyon Rd., shortly before 5:30 a.m. when Lopez allegedly drifted his Toyota Matrix from his lane of travel and crashed into the rear of Edinburgh’s Toyota Corolla, according to California Highway Patrol records.

Fire personnel arrived at the scene at 5:40 a.m. and reported that a vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. After firefighters extinguished the burning vehicle, Edinburgh was declared dead at the scene.

Lopez was charged with vehicular manslaughter and felony DUI later that day, according to Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station officials. He pleaded not guilty in December of 2017.

Bail was initially set at $100,000, but was later increased to $2 million.

Lopez is scheduled to appear at the San Fernando Courthouse on Oct. 19 for a preliminary hearing setting.

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