Arcadia Man to Stand Trial in Roadworker's Death

The case of an Arcadia man accused of mowing down roadworker Connor Penhall while driving drunk on a closed freeway in Baldwin Park will go forward.

Six people testified against Tatsuhiko Sakamoto on Dec. 5 at a preliminary hearing held at the Superior Courthouse in Pomona. Following the hearing, Judge Bruce Marrs ordered the case to trial.

Sakamoto, 37, will appear in Pomona Superior Court again on Dec. 19 for arraignment.

Sakamoto is charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and felony drunken driving in the death of Penhall, the son of racing legend and "CHiPs" star Bruce Penhall. Sakamoto's blood alcohol level was reportedly above the legal limit of .08 at the time of the April 4 incident.

The younger Penhall, 21, was operating a concrete saw for a Caltrans subcontractor on the westbound 10 freeway at Francisquito Avenue when Sakamoto allegedly drove a Toyota Rav4 through traffic cones marking the closed section of freeway.

Penhall was pronounced dead at the scene