Truck Driver Accused Of DUI In Fatal Accident

California, like many other states, has a lower threshold for DUI for those who have a commercial driver’s license. This threshold applies, even if the driver is not driving a commercial vehicle. It is applicable no matter which vehicle the driver is driving. That threshold is .04%. For other drivers over the age of 21, that threshold is .08%. If you are caught driving while intoxicated and convicted of DUI, your commercial driver’s license will be suspended for a year. While you may be able to apply for a restricted driver’s license, there is no restricted CDL. If caught and convicted a second time, you lose your CDL for life.

Noozhawk reports on a tractor-trailer driver accused of DUI in an accident that claimed the lives of two people.

At 6:30 a.m. on February 7th, emergency responders from the Santa Barbara County and Santa Maria Fire Departments responded to an accident scene involving a tractor-trailer and five other vehicles.

The accident occurred at Highway 135 and Union Valley Parkway.

The tractor-trailer, which was heading southbound, approached the intersection, where the other vehicles had stopped for the traffic light. For some reason, the tractor-trailer did not stop and collided with the five other vehicles.

Two people, identified as 60-year-old Rickie Motley and his passenger, 24-year-old Jesse Donald Glyuas, were killed at the scene. Nine other people suffered from injuries, but none were taken to the hospital.

Police suspect that the driver of the tractor-trailer, identified as 56-year-old Gilbert Pena, was driving while intoxicated on either drugs and/or alcohol. He was arrested at the scene.

The trailer, which contained approximately 60,000 pounds of food, was on its side. Cleanup of the scene took until about 2:30 p.m. when all lanes were reopened to traffic.

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