Did you know that San Diego is one of the top cities for drunk driving car accidents according to a survey at the NHTSA? Whether it’s the younger population in areas like Pacific Beach and Ocean Beach that influences such statistics is up in the air – nevertheless, drunk driving is an issue that affects all San Diegans everywhere. And in a case out of Mission Valley, one family is awaiting trial for an allegedly drunk driving accident that resulted in the wrongful death of a Marine.
Ashley Louise Maya, 21, is facing charges of gross vehicular manslaughter after a judge ruled Wednesday the case would go to trial. Maya could spend up to 10 years in state prison if convicted according to authorities.
Brad Clinkscales, a California Patrol Officer, said the defendant was found via surveillance camera to have been drinking alcohol at a nightclub just hours before the drunk driving accident occurred last February 12. At the preliminary hearing Deputy District Attorney Jim Waters said Maya’s friend Cpl. Pedro Conceicao had taken her car keys as they left the club, but she had gotten allegedly violent and regained access to her keys. The young woman drove off the scene with her car door open, later returning to the club to pick up two additional passengers.
The details of the case continued to unravel at the hearing. According to car passenger Bryan Salcido, the young driver was traveled an alleged 90 mph before he shouted at the defendant to slow down her vehicle. After losing control over her Chevy HHR after executing a sharp turn on Rt. 163 Northbound, the vehicle rolled over and ejected two back seat passengers who were not wearing seat belts.
Conceicao, 24, died at the scene of the car accident while another passenger, 25, suffered serious injuries.
“I remember she was going way too fast. She realized, she turned … that’s when I could hear the tires. I could just see it was way too fast to make that turn and then I heard a loud noise and that’s all I remember,” said the passenger.
Maya was booked into jail two days after the car accident. District Attorney Waters said her blood alcohol level registered at .12 percent just 90 minutes after the accident occurred.
Friends don’t let friends drink and drive
It’s harrowing to know that Maya’s friends had allegedly tried to stop her from drinking and driving. For drivers who have the best intentions to stop drinking and driving, there’s one lesson that’s tragically learned in this story: don’t compromise!
Use the following tips to stop drinking and driving in its tracks:
- Prepay a taxi ride home. When it’s preplanned and prepaid, being responsible can be easy when it’s also convenient. There are several prepaid taxi services throughout San Diego.
- Hide the keys. Even if it means you must throw them away, there’s nothing dramatic about stopping a drunk driver from getting behind the wheel.
- Be the DD. Sometimes, you have to take matters into your own hands. Considering being the designated driver and commit to your promise to keep your friends safe by not indulging in any alcoholic beverages at any time.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident and suspect the other driver was intoxicated, we may be able to help. Our firm has helped many injured San Diegans get maximum financial compensation for their injuries. Call us today at 1-800-655-6585 for a free legal review of your case. Or, you may submit your case details online. A personal injury attorney in San Diego will get back to you ASAP.
About Michael PinesMichael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.
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