Cal student charged in deadly May crash

A UC Berkeley graduate student faces two charges of vehicular manslaughter for allegedly killing his girlfriend and her 6-yearold son by crashing into a tree in Berkeley, authorities said.

Jose Lumbreras, 24, of Berkeley had a bloodalcohol level of 0.219 percent — more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent — when he crashed his Cadillac into a roundabout and a tree at California Street and Allston Way shortly before 1:15 a.m. on May 18, authorities said. Police believe he was driving at least 64 mph on the residential street.

Lumbreras’ girlfriend, 22-year-old Milanca Alicia Lopez, who was in the front passenger seat, died at the scene. Her 6-year-old son, Xavier Chevez, who was riding in the back, died May 25 at Children’s Hospital Oakland. Lumbreras was seriously injured.

Alameda County prosecutors have charged Lumbreras with two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

Lopez had been expected to graduate from UC Berkeley in August with a degree in social welfare. She planned to start working on a master’s degree at UCLA in the fall.

She and her son lived in Albany. Pictures on a Facebook memorial page show Xavier walking with his mother, both wearing cap and gown, as part of a commencement ceremony for Latino students graduating this year. On top of Xavier’s cap was written, “I (Heart) My Mom.”

Lumbreras graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in sociology in 2010 and was a graduate student in ethnic studies at UC Berkeley.