An elderly motorist who was driving under the influence of alcohol was sent to prison after he crashed into a local fast food restaurant causing the wrongful death of a patron and thousands of dollars in property damage.  This report comes from San Diego 6 News.

Elderly drivers are already under an intense amount of scrutiny because many feel they shouldn’t be driving on the road at all.  These people blame declining motor skills, and when you add drunk driving, a top cause of car accidents, to the mix, it makes an already difficult task harder.  Drinking and driving may also be potentially life threatening if the car crash causes wrongful death.

Man driving under the influence of alcohol sentenced after crashing into restaurant.

The 75-year-old man pleaded guilty and will serve six years in state prison to charges of gross vehicular manslaughter in connection to the DUI car accident wrongful death of one man that happened on January 3, 2010.

Surveillance tape shows that the man’s car exited an ATM and drove across marked parking spaces.  The drunk driver then slammed into the Carl’s Jr in El Cajon sending the 66-year-old man — who is usually in the burger place to grade papers — 35-40 feet across the eatery causing fatal personal injuries ranging from a crushed chest to an amputated left leg.

The driver in question already has a prior conviction for drunk driving in Alaska, and in 1952, reckless driving was the cause of a car accident that led to the wrongful death of a teenager in Cook County, Illinois.

At the time of the car accident, the man’s blood-alcohol content measured at .22 percent, which is almost three times the legal limit in California.

Our car accident lawyers in San Diego know about the dangers that drinking and driving can present.  It’s an irresponsible choice that you shouldn’t make at any age.  Driving under the influence of alcohol rarely ends well, and there are so many other alternatives.  If you’re drinking, don’t drive.  That’s a decision that can serve you well into your golden years.

Call us now at 1-858-551-2090 for a FREE consultation with an experienced car accident attorney or click here to submit your case for a FREE online review.