Ex-Officer Pleads Guilty in Drunk-Driving Crash
A former Los Angeles police officer pleaded guilty Thursday to drunk driving and causing an injury in connection with a February 1999 off-duty crash that left a 19-year-old driver severely burned.
Ten-year veteran James Reyes, 36, resigned from the force after the accident in Sun Valley in which Samuel Yamada of Valencia suffered third-degree burns on more than 40% of his body.
Another off-duty officer, who witnessed the collision, told investigators that Yamada’s car was disabled on the Golden State Freeway near the Hollywood Freeway with its lights off when Reyes’ car hit it. Yamada’s car burst into flames with him inside.
As part of Reyes’ plea agreement, the district attorney dropped a second felony drunk-driving charge. Reyes, who is scheduled for sentencing May 10 in San Fernando Superior Court, could receive a year in county jail.
Both Reyes and Yamada had exceeded the 0.08% legal limit for blood-alcohol, Smith said. Reyes’ level was 0.09& three hours after the collision, and Yamada’s was between 0.12 and 0.18.
The district attorney’s office declined to pursue charges against Yamada, who was hospitalized for several months after the accident.
“The investigation found Mr. Reyes was at fault for the collision,” said Sgt. Rhett Smith, a California Highway Patrol spokesman.
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