Crime & Safety

DUI Driver Expected To Get 10 Years For Manslaughter, Child Endangerment

Andre Elgin Williams, 41, pleaded guilty on Nov. 19 to gross vehicular manslaughter, felony driving under the influence and child endangerment.

UPDATE: Sentencing for Andre Elgin Williams was postponed to Feb. 6, 2014.

ORIGINAL POST: A drunken driver who triggered a head-on crash that killed a 62-year-old man is expected to be sentenced today to more than 10 years in prison.

Andre Elgin Williams, 41, pleaded guilty on Nov. 19 to gross vehicular manslaughter, felony driving under the influence and child endangerment, with a sentence-enhancing allegation of inflicting great bodily injury in connection with the death of Jose Hernandez of Perris.

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Riverside County Superior Court Judge Becky Dugan is slated to certify the plea agreement between the defense and prosecution today.

Williams remains held without bail at the Robert Prelsey Jail in Riverside.

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Williams was heading southbound on Old Elsinore Road, near Michael Road, around 1:15 p.m. last Nov. 14 when he steered his 2004 Dodge Ram pickup truck across the double yellow lines into the opposing traffic lane.

Williams had his young son with him, strapped into a child safety seat in the back of the truck, said CHP Officer Travis Monks.

He said that after the Dodge crossed into the northbound lane, it plowed head-on into Hernandez's 1997 GMC pickup, triggering a fire on the roadway and leaving the mortally injured Hernandez trapped inside his vehicle.

Fire crews arrived moments later, extinguished the flames and extricated Hernandez, who was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

Williams suffered moderate injuries, while his son escaped with minor injuries, according to Monks.

The pair were transported to Riverside County Regional Medical Center in Moreno Valley for treatment. Williams was taken into custody at the hospital and later booked into jail, according to the CHP.

His son was placed in the care of family members. --City News Service


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