Law enforcement officials suspect a Santa Clarita Valley man accused of fatally striking a popular teacher with his car and leaving the scene was under the influence at the time of the collision.

Officials with the District Attorney’s Office filed charges Tuesday against Lucas Guidroz, 28, of Canyon Country, in the fatal, hit-and-run collision that killed a well-liked Arroyo Seco music and math teacher.

Guidroz is being charged by Assistant District Attorney Karen Rizzo with two counts: gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and hit and run driving resulting in the death or serious injury to another person.

His hearing was continued until June 16.

At the preliminary hearing, the case against Guidroz will be presented, and the judge will decide if there’s enough evidence to merit a trial. Guidroz pleaded not guilty at his preliminary arraignment.

“We forwarded our report to he facts of the district attorney,” said Sgt. Peck of the California Highway Patrol, which led the investigation. “And based on the facts presented, they found it appropriate to file the DUI charges.”

Rod Bennett, 53, of Valencia, was struck and killed around 4:30 p.m. last Wednesday, according to California Highway Patrol officials. The car that hit Bennett left the scene before emergency responders arrived, and Bennett died of injuries he sustained at the scene of the collision.

Guidroz is accused of leaving the scene, and then turning himself into officials around 3:30 a.m. Friday morning, two days after the collision.

If convicted as charged, Guidroz faces a maximum of 16 years in state prison.

Guidroz is being held in Downtown Los Angeles in lieu of $180,000 bail.