Watch Jefferson County

A Leesburg, VA man has been charged with aggravated manslaughter in a DUI related crash that took the life of a California man Saturday afternoon.

Arturo A. Martinez, 32, was traveling west on Route 7 near Smith Circle when he struck a 2006 Hyundai Sonata that was stopped at a red light. The driver of the vehicle, Laura Thomas, 24, of West Virginia, told Martinez to move to the shoulder after seeing their vehicles had some damage.

Martinez then accelerated and continued westbound on Route 7 in his 1999 Ford F-150. As Martinez approached the intersection of Janelia Farm Boulevard, the traffic signal changed to red and traffic came to a stop. Martinez attempted to make a right turn onto Janelia Farm Boulevard from the left lane of Route 7. He lost of control of his vehicle and proceeded over the median, struck a highway sign and then struck a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix that was stopped on Janelia Farm Boulevard waiting to make a left turn onto Route 7.

The driver of the Grand Prix, Jeffrey Cooper, 52, of California, lost his life at the scene. The impact pushed Cooper’s vehicle into a 2007 Lexus. The occupants of that vehicle received minor injuries and were treated at the Lansdowne Campus of INOVA Loudoun Hospital.

Martinez was taken to the Cornwall Campus of INOVA Loudoun Hospital after complaining of chest pains. After being treated and released he was charged with felony aggravated malicious wounding, DUI, and Hit and Run. He is being held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.

The crash occurred around 4:20 PM and was investigated by the Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. The crash caused major delays on Route 7 for over three hours.