Why was driver suspected of crashing into 25 sheriff’s recruits suddenly set free?
The driver of a Tesla Model S who struck 25 law school police recruits recently was arrested and charged with reckless driving, according to a statement released by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department today.
The driver – who was taken into police custody – is now facing two misdemeanor charges for allegedly violating the California Vehicle Code which prohibits driving with a blood alcohol level above 0.08% in any vehicle.
The Sheriff’s Department statement said the driver, who was not identified, was taken into custody at 7:38 p.m. on March 29th for alleged reckless driving, resisting arrest, evading a peace officer and driving on a suspended license.
The 25 recruits were riding in the area of Northgate Village shopping center when the driver crashed into them. Some were taken to the hospital to be treated for cuts and bruises to their faces, arms and necks. A total of eight students are believed to be injured in the incident. The driver is now in police custody.
The sheriff’s statement said that the sheriff’s department was made aware of the incident via a Department of Homeland Security tip on March 30th from a dispatcher.
According to California law, a person is considered legally drunk if he or she has a blood alcohol content between 0.08% and almost 0.12%.
There is no set limit for drivers who drive with a blood alcohol content over 0.08%. The driver in the Tesla Model S reportedly had a BAC of 0.21% at the time of the incident.
The Sheriff’s statement said the suspect was initially arrested on suspicion of reckless driving and resisting arrest, and that he was booked into County jail on March 30th. The driver remained in custody for the night, and was scheduled for a bond hearing on April 1st.
“It was an unfortunate event for law enforcement, but we are thankful there were no injuries and that no one else was injured,” Sheriff Bill Gore said in a statement. “We are doing everything we can to learn more about what happened, and we encourage everyone to do the same.”
The FBI is investigating the incident, and the California Highway Patrol is also investigating to determine how the driver got out of the area.
Last September, San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore announced the start of an