Laguna Doctor Pleads Not Guilty in Fatal High-Speed Crash

A Laguna Beach doctor pleaded not guilty Monday to charges stemming from a high-speed, head on crash that killed two men, court records show.

Robert McFarland Pettis, 48, entered not guilty pleas to two felony counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and one felony count of driving the wrong way on a divided highway causing death.

According to court records, prosecutors filed sentencing enhancements for inflicting great bodily harm against Pettis. If convicted he faces a maximum sentence of nine years and eight months in state prison.

The charges against Pettis are in connection with a crash that occurred around 6:40 a.m. on April 2. Authorities allege Pettis was driving his Tesla Model S at an excessive speed northbound on State Route 133/Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach. According to prosecutors, Pettis is accused of crossing over the double lines into the southbound lanes into oncoming traffic and crashing head-on into a Honda Accord, killing its driver 47- year-old driver Alberto Casique, his 38-year-old passenger Armando Gonzalez.

Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene due to vehicular blunt force trauma, authorities reported.

Pettis remains out of jail on $100,000 bond.

He is scheduled to return to court on March 13 for a pre-trial hearing.

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