Rancho Santa Fe Car Crash Kills Teen and Leads to Driving Under the Influence Arrest
Because I defend people accused of driving under the influence (DUI), incidents where alleged drunk drivers are accused of manslaughter always result in some introspection. This weekend, a Torrey Pines High School student was killed, another seriously injured, when a car carrying five classmates crashed on Rancho Santa Fe Road. According to the San Diego Union Tribune, the driver is a 17 year old senior who was not injured. He is being held on suspicion of driving under the influence and gross vehicular manslaughter.
Incidents like these tend to further polarize my social circle. Many of my friends and relatives understand the important work I do to protect against the further erosion of everyone's rights. Some even grasp that I find the work rewarding and fulfilling. More than a few are puzzled that I would want to help someone who would drink, get behind the wheel and put other people's lives at risk.
I'm not sure why God made me a person who, after contemplating the suffering the deceased's family must endure, has compassion left over to be concerned about the life altering event the young driver has experienced. He and his family, blanketed in shame and remorse, are now forced to navigate an unfamiliar and unfriendly minefield - the criminal justice system. There will be few who gather around them for support.
It would be horribly unfortunate if this accident was caused by this teen's drinking. It would be tragic if despite all the MADD posters and assemblies to which he was undoubtedly exposed he didn't choose to avoid such a destructive behavior. Yet even if he did drive under the influence, he still deserves a competent and compassionate defense.
In this, and every DUI case, the prosecutors must be held to their burden to prove every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. This is especially true where the media has been deployed so effectively to vilify drinking and driving. Even more so when the prosecutor will open and close with pictures of a roadside vigil. Juries are predisposed to hand down guilty verdicts in these cases and prosecutors act as if they are under the highest mandate. In situations like this, it is all to easy to look the other way as rights are violated.
My heart goes out to the family of the deceased. I cannot even begin to imagine the sorrow that accompanies the greatest loss one can suffer - the loss of a child at such a young and promising age. My hope is that every life this popular young man has touched will learn from this tragedy and forever drive responsibly. Use a designated driver or call a cab.
My heart also goes out to the defendant and his family. This incident will drive them deep into isolation. The guilt of having a hand in the death of a friend will follow the defendant for life - even if he is completely innocent. Few will be able to look past his faults and offer help.
If you've made a mistake and have been accused of driving under the influence in San Diego County, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney who understands the presumption of innocence and can look past the allegations to help you protect your rights. The earlier in the process you call, the more effective we can be.
