Tragic San Diego DUI Crash Leaves One Man Dead
A San Diego DUI accident took the life of a 34 year-old Santee man named Patrick Elerding Tuesday morning, August 18, per a story from the San Diego Union Tribune. According to investigators from the Medical Examiner's office and the California Highway Patrol, the accident took place in the early morning hours. Elerding had been riding in the passenger seat of a 1990 Volvo driven by another San Diego man named Nico Faulk, 37. While heading west on El Monte Road, Mr. Faulk apparently lost control of the station wagon. He then corrected too much and careered over the yellow median dividers into an oak tree. An off duty police officer and paramedics quickly arrived at the scene, but they were too late to save Mr. Elerding, who was pronounced dead. Mr. Faulk suffered injuries to his back.
Mr. Faulk faces charges of felony DUI in San Diego as well as vehicular manslaughter. If convicted, he could face many years in jail and additionally be compelled to pay fines and court costs, attend alcohol school, undergo probation, have his driver’s license suspended.
The legal BAC limit for a San Diego DUI is 0.08%. But even if your BAC level is below that, you can still be convicted of a felony DUI in Southern California depending on the circumstances of your accident, such as the degree of your negligence, and whether or not you had also consumed illegal narcotics. Drivers under the age of 21 face an even stricter standard, since they cannot legally consume alcohol in the first place.
Defending against charges of San Diego felony DUI or vehicular manslaughter can be challenging, emotionally taxing, and isolating. Even close friends and family members who otherwise might be supportive can prejudge you and give you even less of the benefit of the doubt than the legal system offers you. In this hard time, you need compassionate assistance from a qualified, battle proven San Diego felony DUI attorney. Attorney Stephen R. Brodsky can fight on your behalf. For nearly two decades, Attorney Brodsky has defended literally hundreds of individuals accused of violating the state law. He also served for a time as a prosecutor for the US Government as a Navy Judge Advocate, so he brings to bear an additional perspective that can help you.
To learn more about how Mr. Brodsky can help defend you from the intimidating charges, connect with him now at WWW.CRIMINALATTORNEYSANDIEGO.COM, or call 1-800-GOOD-ADVICE for immediate assistance. Consultations are free, and hablamos Español.
