Long Beach Fire captain John David Hines was convicted of several DUI charges on Tuesday stemming from a severe crash with a bicyclist in April, according to The Orange County Register.
John Hines pleaded to the court-offered DUI charges of driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury, driving with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 or more causing injury, hit-and-run with injury, causing great bodily injury, and having a blood-alcohol level of more than 0.20 percent.
According to the California Vehicle Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is typically punished by less than a year of imprisonment or a fine. However, if the accident results in permanent, serious injury to another, a convicted driver could get a sentence of two-to-four years in prison.
Add in the convictions for the other DUI charges, and Hines could potentially face a maximum sentence of six years and eight months in state prison, according to The Register.
The charges stem from an April 1st incident in which Hines crashed into bicyclist Jeffrey Gordon after allegedly getting drunk at the Schooner or Later bar in Long Beach. Gordon was thrown over 70 feet before landing on the shoulder of the road. Witnesses stated that Hines fled, and two drivers followed his car while calling for medical assistance.
John Hines was later arrested by Huntington Beach and Seal Beach police. Further testing revealed that Hines had a blood-alcohol level of 0.24, three times the legal limit in California.
Jeffrey Gordon is now suffering from limited physical mobility and speech and memory loss due to the injuries he suffered from the Long Beach Fire captain's drunken ride.
Related Resources:
- Find a Los Angeles DUI Attorney (FindLaw)
- Long Beach Fire Captain Pleads Guilty in DUI Hit and Run (KTLA News)
- Leaving the Scene of an Accident/Hit and Run (FindLaw)
- Deputy Michael Anthony Grundy Gets Drunk Driving Charge (The Los Angeles DUI Blog)
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