Driver In Fatal Oxnard DUI Crash Pleads Not Guilty To Murder And Other Charges
Wednesday August 09, 2023
The driver in a solo vehicle DUI crash in Oxnard that killed one person and severely injured two others has pleaded not guilty to Second Degree Murder.
The authorities allege that in the early morning hours of January of 2021, 35-year-old Nathaniel Wills, who prosecutors originally said was from Oxnard but was actually from Los Angeles, was traveling at 70 miles an hour while under the influence of alcohol when he veered across all lanes of Rose Avenue and then crashed into a tree stump south of Cesar Chavez Drive.
One of his passengers, 71-year-old Leonel Parks of Oxnard, was ejected and killed.
Two other passengers, an Oxnard woman in her 20’s and an Oxnard man in his 30’s suffered major injuries.
Wills also suffered injuries and was in the hospital for several weeks.
When he was released, he was arrested and charged with Second Degree Murder, Gross Vehicular Manslaughter, and two DUI alcohol related charges plus driving on a suspended license.
Prosecutors say Wills had four prior DUI convictions.
In addition to his not guilty plea to the Second Degree Murder charge, he has also pleaded not guilty to all other charges and has denied all special allegations.
Wills remains in the Ventura County Jail with bail set at $1 million.
He is due in back in court on August 30th for a pretrial conference.
