An Avenal man pleaded no contest Monday to charges related to a violent car accident last year that killed one and injured two others, the Kings County District Attorney’s Office said.
On Apr. 24, 2010, Santos Nieto was driving southbound on the Avenal Cutoff near Interstate 5 around 4:11 p.m. when his SUV veered to the right, Deputy District Attorney Sarah Hacker said. The passenger-side wheels went across a drain and onto the curb. He straddled the curb for about 100 to 120 feet.
“He forcefully jerked the car off the curb and into the northbound lane of traffic,†Hacker said.
Nieto hit a small fiberglass kit car head on, immediately killing the driver, Jack Bolding, 62, and seriously injuring his 23-year-old daughter.
Nieto was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from his vehicle. His passenger suffered minor injuries.
Bolding’s daughter and Nieto were taken by helicopter to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno for their injuries.
Hacker said Nieto’s blood-alcohol level measured .25 nearly three hours after the incident.
Monday’s no-contest plea included felony charges of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence of alcohol and causing injury and driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 and causing injury. He also admitted causing great bodily injury to two other passengers involved in the vehicle collision.
Nieto is being held in the Kings County Jail awaiting sentencing on Sept. 26. Hacker said he could face up to 19 years and eight months in prison.
The reporter can be reached at 583-2458 or meiman@HanfordSentinel.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment