A father who was driving with his two teenage sons just after midnight on Wednesday was allegedly responsible for an accident when he made impact with a train in Santa Monica, and he is facing felony charges for the event.
54-year-old Anthony Manual Beltran Sr. of Waterford, Connecticut, was driving in Santa Monica with his two 16-year-old sons on April 18 at roughly 12:20 a.m.
Beltran reportedly failed to stop for a red light at an intersection causing his Kia sedan to smash into a moving Metro Expo Line train. When Santa Monica Police Department officers arrived at the scene they discovered the car with its airbags deployed and all of the passengers were in need of medical assistance. Officers suspected that Beltran had been drinking and they alleged that may have been the cause of the accident.
Beltran and his sons were taken to the hospital and one of the teens was reportedly in critical condition. When Beltran was released after receiving medical treatment he was taken into custody.
Beltran was booked into the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and he is facing felony charges of driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage causing great bodily injury, and two counts of child abuse. He was also charged with two misdemeanor counts of furnishing alcohol to a minor under the age of 21.
Though prosecuting attorneys allege that Beltran’s blood alcohol content was nearly three times the legal limit of .08, Beltran has entered a plea of not guilty to all of the charges against him. He remains in custody in lieu of $410,000 bail and has a scheduled court date on May 16.
If Beltran is convicted on all of the charges he could be sentenced for up to 30 years in a state prison.
If you or someone you love is suspected of DUI, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.