Our San Juan Capistrano DUI criminal defense lawyers were sad to see that another driver has been sentenced to prison for a drunk driving death. As the Orange County Register reported Jan. 21, Christopher James Koppi of Anaheim was sentenced to 13 years in prison for causing the death of 59-year-old Richard James Pettigrew. Koppi, 29, is not accused of driving his car into Pettigrew's, but prosecutors say he was so drunk that he allowed his truck to run out of gas on the 57 freeway in Anaheim. The stalled pickup sitting in the road caused a chain-reaction crash, with Pettigrew's 1981 Datsun in the middle. Koppi was sentenced to 13 years in prison for gross vehicular manslaughter while driving under the influence, less than the minimum of 17 years the prosecution asked for.
The crash happened at about 4:30 a.m. on Aug. 26, 2006, as Pettigrew was coming home from his job as a security guard. Koppi had been drinking heavily, which may be why he didn't realize his pickup truck was about to run out of gas. Pettigrew was unable to stop in time to avoid the stalled pickup and slammed into it at highway speeds. Another, unnamed, driver then hit Pettigrew's car. Pettigrew died at the scene; no injuries were reported for Koppi or the other driver. Two hours after the accident, police measured Koppi's blood-alcohol content at 0.20, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08. He also had a prior drunk driving conviction as well as a conviction for aggravated assault. His defense attorneys and fiance said he was remorseful and was in alcohol rehabilitation, and asked for lenience.
As Riverside drunk driving criminal defense attorneys, we hope they're right. The 13-year sentence may be less than the prosecution wanted, but it's still a lot of time to think about the accident and its causes. Many drivers may wonder whether this accident truly counts as a DUI accident, since Koppi did not directly crash into Pettigrew. In fact, California law gives prosecutors broad leeway to charge drivers whose actions under the influence caused a crash, even indirectly. Koppi was convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, which means he was accused of doing something grossly negligent that caused the fatal crash, while he was also intoxicated. Running out of gas on the freeway was enough to meet the test for gross negligence, even if that's a mistake that sober people also make.
If you're accused of DUI manslaughter or another serious drunk driving crime, don't wait to call Howard Law, P.C.. Driving under the influence is treated very seriously in California -- so seriously that even one prior conviction with no injuries can add time to any future sentence. That's one reason why our Torrance intoxicated driving criminal defense lawyers defend our clients vigorously, to avoid having a sentence enhancement in the first place. Getting experienced representation early in your case can also help you avoid losing your driver's license for three to six months (for a first DUI) and build the strongest possible case. Police officers make mistakes, and those mistakes can sometimes undermine the entire case against you.
If you're charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in California, you should call Howard Law, P.C. for help. We offer free, confidential consultations, so you can learn about your rights and your legal options at no charge. To set up a meeting, contact us online or call 1-800-872-5925 today.
