DUI suspect in jail

An Upland man who police say drove his Toyota Camry into three other cars and hit two pedestrians while allegedly drunk outside a Costa Mesa nightclub early Sunday is expected to be charged today authorities said.

Arthur Arambula Jr., 31, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and felony DUI causing injury about 2 a.m. Sunday after police received several 911 calls that Arambula was trying to drive away after hitting cars, then people, in the Club Vegas parking lot.

“The more he was striking things, the more he became intent on getting out of there,” Lt. Paul Dondero said. “It was pandemonium to say the least.”

When police arrived, people scattered out of the parking lot near the club, Dondero said. Shortly before 2 a.m., as the club approached closing time and alcohol sales stop, club-goers and cars flow out of the parking lots in the area.

Club Vegas is across the street from Triangle Square.

Exiting cars were held up at the lot’s main exit by the current of people leaving, Dondero said. He said witnesses told police Arambula grew impatient, tried to pull around a black BMW sport utility vehicle and hit it.

“He threw it in reverse, accelerated back and forth to get out of the area. While he was doing so he struck another vehicle behind [and] hit a limo on the side as well,” Dondero said.

Witnesses also told investigators they saw Arambula’s car hit two men who were later hospitalized following the seconds-long chaos, Dondero said.

Police would not release details about the victims, except that both were taken to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian. One man suffered a potentially broken pelvis, the other a broken knee, Dondero said.

Detectives interviewed more than 20 witnesses there, he said.

Club employees and other people exiting the lounge eventually rushed the Camry and broke the driver’s side window and pulled Arambula out, police said. He is being held in Costa Mesa jail.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.