A person under the age of 21 who is found to be driving under the influence of alcohol may face even more penalties than an adult driver facing a DUI charge. Underage DUI is defined differently than a typical DUI, making such cases complicated. Normally, an adult faces a DUI charge with a blood-alcohol content of .08%. For an underage driver, California’s zero-tolerance policy means that anyone under 21 who is caught with any amount of alcohol in their system can be charged with DUI. If found guilty, a person will lose their license for a year. NBC Los Angeles reports on a teenager suspected of DUI and hitting four pedestrians.
18-year-old Jose Gil Ortiz-Ortiz is suspected of driving under the influence and striking four pedestrians in an accident last Sunday.
The accident occurred just before 2 a.m. near Fourth Street and Brookwood Avenue. Witnesses called the police and reported that a Ford Explorer went onto the sidewalk and struck four people standing outside a restaurant.
The same witnesses advised police that Ortiz-Ortiz fled south on Brookwood Avenue and jumped from the car near the intersection with Second Street. He then fled on foot.
Ortiz-Ortiz was located a little while later hiding in some bushes along Second Street.
He admitted to having been behind the wheel of the Explorer.
While at the hospital, it was determined that Ortiz-Ortiz was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.
Ortiz-Ortiz has been charged with felony DUI and felony hit-and-run.
All four victims were significantly injured but are expected to survive.
