| For Immediate Release Case # 10NF1587
|
DRUNKEN DRIVER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR INJURING OFF-DUTY OFFICER AND HIS WIFE IN
HIGH-SPEED FREEWAY CRASH
*A high school principal and assistant principal were severely injured
as a result of flying debris
FULLERTON – A speeding drunken driver with a blood alcohol level of .19 percent will be arraigned tomorrow on charges of injuring four victims in two cars, including an off-duty police officer, his wife, and a high school principal and assistant principal. Thomas Lance Reed, 23, Canyon Lake, is charged with one felony count each of driving under the influence causing bodily injury, driving with a blood alcohol .08 percent of more causing injury, and hit and run with injury. He faces sentencing enhancements and allegations for causing bodily injury, causing bodily injury to multiple victims, and having a blood alcohol level over .15 percent. If convicted on all counts, Reed faces a maximum sentence of nine years and eight months in state prison. The People will request that Reed be taken into custody on $50,000 bail at his arraignment tomorrow, Friday, May 28, 2010, at 8:30 a.m. in Department N-3, North Justice Center, Fullerton.
At approximately 11:00 p.m. on Feb. 18, 2010, Reed is accused of driving while intoxicated and speeding over 100 mph westbound on California State Route 91 (SR-91) near Imperial Highway with a blood alcohol level of .19 percent. He is accused of failing to stop as he approached behind a vehicle driven by off-duty Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Jonathan K., who was driving with his pregnant wife Mallory K. in the passenger seat.
Reed is accused of crashing into the victims at a high rate of speed, causing the Jonathan K. to lose control of his car, spin, and crash into a chain fence on the right shoulder of the freeway. The defendant’s car crashed into the center divider and came to a stop. Reed is accused of then getting out of his car and running across the freeway. He is accused of jumping over a fence and attempting to run and flee the scene, but returned after Jonathan K. pursued him and identified himself as an off-duty officer, ordering the defendant back. Jonathan K. suffered pain to his chest, neck, and back and Mallory K. suffered pain to her back.
At the time of the crash, Marina High School Principal Paul M. and Assistant Principal Jeanne E. were also driving westbound on SR-91 on their way back from a school basketball game. As a result of the crash caused by Reed, large metal debris from the defendant’s and Jonathan K.’s vehicle was scattered across the freeway. Paul M. was unable to avoid the large debris on the freeway and collided with it, causing his car to roll and skid several hundred feet before coming to a stop.
Paul M., a surfer featured in the International Surfing Hall of Fame, suffered an injury to his knee and will likely never surf again. Jeanne E. suffered a fracture to her sternum, ankle and vertebrae and has been unable to return to work.
Reed was arrested at the scene. He was charged with crashing into Jonathan K. while intoxicated on May 7, 2010. He was charged today, May 27, 2010, with injuring Paul M. and Jeanne E., after investigation and review determined that Reed is accused of causing their injuries as a result of the crash.