A U.S. Navy Service Member has been accused of allegedly driving drunk and speeding causing the fatal Coronado Bridge crash last Saturday. The 24-year-old active duty service member stationed in Coronado pleaded not guilty to multiple charges related to the fatal crash. Some of those charges include driving under the influence causing injury or death, four counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and different great bodily injury allegations.
The accused's vehicle landed on a crowd below the Coronado Bridge when he drove his pickup truck off the ramp and plummeted 60 feet. Four people were killed, and several others were injured. The accused’s attorney spoke for him yesterday saying his client was not drunk and the fault is in the dangerous design of the bridge. His client is pleading not guilty.
The Deputy District Attorney says that the accused went to a restaurant with a friend earlier that day where the two drank a bottle of wine and a couple of cocktails. Investigators say the accused was speeding to pass a car at twice the speed limit at approximately 80 miles per hour when he lost control of his pickup truck and drove off the right-hand side of the bridge.
According to the attorney, his client was cut off on the road and driven into the side of the bridge, where his car was forced off the ramp and not a result of alcohol. Authorities say if convicted the accused faces a maximum sentence of 23 years in prison. The Navy member is in custody on $2 million bail.
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