KION - Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz - News WeatherFather in Suspected DUI Accident Pleads Not Guilty

Father in Suspected DUI Accident Pleads Not Guilty

SALINAS, Calif-  

Thursady afternoon, Zabdiel Arciga, the man police say ran from authorities Tuesday morning, pled not guilty to a laundry list of charges including DUI, murder, vehicular manslaughter, evading police and child endangerment.

Police say Arciga was intoxicated when he refused to stop for police and crashed into a guard rail killing his 8-year-old son Isaiah. 

Inside the Salinas courthouse, Arciga started to cry as he pled not guilty to the charges against him, and while he has a previous criminal record, friends call him a good and loving father.

Jocelyn, a close family friend, was very emotional as she told Central Coast news "I would like you to look at the man and the fact that he coaches little league, his sons involved in everything. He is a dedicated father he's in a lot of pain right now and what's being said in the papers doesn't portray who he is at all this was an accident, I know him.

Arciga broke down at his arraignment.  Tears rolled down his face as the judge read off murder and DUI charges. Police say he was driving drunk, and going more than 100 miles an hour when he crashed on highway 1 at the Fremont Boulevard exit in Seaside.

Arciga's friend Shawn Mills came out to support him and said "Isaiah and his mother had no relationship.  Zabdiel had fought for sole custody of Isaiah and had taken care of him since he was a baby..."

And while we don't know why Arciga refused to stop for police on Highway 1 Tuesday morning, his family is at a loss for words.

"I would like to know what the reasons were [that he did not stop], but until then I wont pass any judgement or malice," said Togafa.

Arciga will be back in court next week.

Click here to see exclusive video and interviews with the family of Isaiah.