Aside from a DUI murder charge, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is one of the worst of California’s DUI charges. Not only is the charge a felony, carrying with it extensive fines and penalties, it also implies that the driver was aware that people were being put at risk. Gross vehicular manslaughter means that a person killed another person with a vehicle while acting with “gross negligence.” Simply put, gross negligence means a total disregard for the safety of others. The felony charge has a term of four to ten years in prison. If a driver has two or more DUI convictions, the penalty increases to 15 years in prison.
KTLA reports on a man charged with gross vehicular manslaughter after a pedestrian was killed in an alleged DUI accident.
27-year-old Jacob Gralitzer was arrested and booked on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence on Friday.
The charges stem from an accident that occurred at around 10:30 p.m. Thursday evening near several businesses on Melrose and Martel Avenues.
Gralitzer was driving a 2018 Infiniti Q605 eastward on Melrose Avenue when he struck another vehicle heading the opposite direction that was trying to make a left onto Martel Avenue. That vehicle, a 2017 Acura MDX ran off of the road, striking a pedestrian that had been standing on the southeast corner of the intersection.
Witnesses performed CPR on the pedestrian until help arrived. The L.A. Fire Department took the victim to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Authorities are withholding the name of the victim pending notification of his family.
