Murder Trial Starts In Fatal Oxnard DUI Crash

Tuesday September 10, 2024

     Update--The jury trial for the driver charged with murder in a fatal Oxnard DUI crash started Tuesday with opening statements and testimony.    

     The authorities allege that in the early morning hours of January of 2021, 35-year-old Nathaniel Wills of 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.

     Wills has pleaded not guilty to Second Degree Murder, Gross Vehicular Manslaughter, and two DUI alcohol related charges plus driving on a suspended license.

     Prosecutors allege that 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.

     The jury trial will resume Wednesday.

     Wills remains in the Ventura County Jail with bail set at $1 million.