EL CAJON, Calif. (CNS) — A man who pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs and causing a fiery, fatal head-on crash on a Jamul highway was sentenced Wednesday to six years in state prison.
David James San Nicolas, 35, pleaded guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and other charges for causing the Aug. 3, 2019, death of Sabah Aso, 64.
At San Nicolas' arraignment, Deputy District Attorney Cally Bright alleged that the defendant was "significantly under the influence of methamphetamine" when he veered into opposing lanes of traffic on state Route 94 just before 1 p.m. that day, striking Aso's vehicle head-on.
The impact sent Aso's vehicle down an embankment, where it overturned and became engulfed in flames, according to the California Highway Patrol. Aso died at the scene and the crash sparked a fire that blackened about an acre of brush.
San Nicolas was also seriously injured in the crash, suffering a fractured femur and lumbar, Bright said.
