San Diego DUI Lawyers Blog
A San Diego resident, Jose Pedro Lopez Jasso, 23, was sentenced on January 7th, 2011, for the DUI accident that caused the death of San Diego Sheriff’s Deputy Ken Collier on February 28, 2010, according to 10news.com. Lopez was seen going the wrong way on westbound Route 52 at 3:15 a.m. and Deputy Collier gave chase. The deputy drove in the auxiliary lanes to avoid oncoming traffic but hit an abutment between Santo Road and Mast Boulevard. He was ejected from the vehicle and died at the hospital.
Mr. Lopez plead guilty to gross manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI causing injury, driving with measurable blood-alcohol causing injury, manufacturing a weapon while in jail, and driving the wrong way on a divided highway in October 2010.
Santee.patch.com reported that Lopez’s blood-alcohol content was measured at .11 percent and he tested positive for methamphetamine and marijuana two hours after the crash. Lopez faced eleven years and eight months, but instead was sentenced to seven years and eight months in state prison.
California Vehicle Code Section 23152(a) states that it is illegal for any person to drive a vehicle while under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or a combination of alcohol and drugs.
Online Sources:
Alleged Wrong-Way DUI Driver Pleads Guilty: 10news.com
Lopez Sentenced to Nearly Eight Years for Deputy’s Death on Route 52: santee.patch.com
DUI Driver Sentenced for Crash that Killed Deputy: signonsandiego.com