Drunken Driver Accident - Two San Jose Teens Killed
October 5, 2010 - A 21-year-old San Jose man was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in prison for a drunken driver accident that resulted in the deaths of two of his passengers and serious injuries to a third passenger. A Santa Clara County Superior Court judge permitted the families of the victims to testify all day Monday before sentencing the drunk driver. Families played two slide shows featuring photos of the two teens who were killed, a video of their joint funerals and multiple speeches from mourners. One mother was allowed to bring her son's ashes to the trial. The deaths have devastated the close-knit families. The mothers of the boys have been best friends since childhood. California judges are required to allow "victim impact statements" but have discretion in what to allow. In this trial, the judge allowed the families all day to show what they had gone through as a result of the accident. The boys died in March, 2009 when the San Jose man crashed his SUV into a median and then slammed into a light pole that fell onto the vehicle. The boys were in the back seat when they were crushed by the light pole. A 17-year-old girl riding in the front passenger seat suffered serious injuries, including a collapsed lung and a broken collarbone, three ribs and two vertebrae. According to a probation report, the driver was high on shots of brandy and methamphetamines. He pleaded guilty in the case. At the end of the day he choked up and apologized to the families. The courtroom was filled with people wearing t-shirts featuring photos of the two dead boys. "I never meant no harm," the man told them. If you or a loved one have suffered serious injuries or death as a result of a drunken driver accident, you should call a Sonoma County Personal Injury attorney for a free consultation about your case.