Southern California Accident News

Ladera Ranch man sentenced in drunk driving death of OC athlete

A Ladera Ranch man was sentenced on Friday to four years in prison for killing a man while driving drunk and under the influence of cocaine.
 
The Orange County car accident occurred on October 16, 2009 on the San Joaquin Hills Toll Road north of Laguna Canyon Road.  
 
Thirty-seven-year-old Richard Ernest Caselli was seen weaving through traffic on the southbound 73.  He drove his Volvo sedan at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour.  The high speed drive ended when Caselli crashed into a Nissan sport utility vehicle from behind and caused the SUV to flip in the air and roll over.
 
The driver of the Nissan was 52-year-old Brook Boynton of San Clemente.  Mr. Boynton was a competitive marathon runner and triathlete.  He was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene from injuries sustained in the crash.
 
Caselli had spent the five hours before the accident drinking Salty Dogs and Jägermeister Bombs at the Class Cue in Newport Beach.  Caselli was arrested at the scene after he showed signs of intoxication and failed to pass field sobriety tests. His blood-alcohol level after the accident was 0.18 – more than twice the legal limit.
 
Caselli plead guilty in May to vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated, but his sentencing was delayed.
 
Caselli has no prior record and checked himself into a residential center for treatment after the accident. He has claimed remorse and has offered to work with Mothers Against Drunk Driving to prevent future DWI accidents.

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