A Fresno father who drove drunk on a Monterey County highway and crashed into a tree, leaving his 6-year-old son paralyzed, has been ordered to spend nearly a decade behind bars.
Daniel Santos, 25, was sentenced this week to nine years in state prison after pleading guilty to felony child abuse and driving under the influence in connection with a Feb. 22 single-vehicle wreck on State Route 156. Prosecutors said the plea included paralysis injury enhancements that significantly increased the potential sentence. Both of Santos' children were hospitalized after the crash, which also led investigators to arrest him at the scene.
Judge Hands Down Nine-Year Term
According to the Monterey County District Attorney's Office, Santos admitted to one count of felony child abuse with a paralysis enhancement and one count of felony driving under the influence causing injury, also with a paralysis enhancement. The judge sentenced him to a nine-year term in state prison, and the convictions were counted as a strike under California's Three Strikes Law, as reported by SFGATE.
The Crash
California Highway Patrol officers were called shortly before 5 PM on Feb. 22 to the eastbound State Route 156 near Cathedral Oaks Road. Investigators said a gray SUV traveling eastbound crossed over the westbound lane, left the roadway and slammed into a tree. Inside were two adults and two children, ages 6 years and 8 months. Both children were flown to Bay Area hospitals with major injuries, according to KSBW.
Breath Test And Past Record
Prosecutors said CHP officers immediately smelled alcohol on Santos' breath when they arrived. Santos admitted he had been drinking tequila before getting behind the wheel, and a chemical breath test later put his blood-alcohol level at 0.09 percent, above the legal limit. Prosecutors also noted that Santos had a 2020 conviction for reckless driving involving alcohol, according to CBS Bay Area.
Victims And Road Safety
Authorities said the 6-year-old boy suffered paralysis of his legs along with other serious internal injuries. His 8-month-old sister was also hurt in the crash but was not seriously injured, according to SFGATE.
The crash lands amid ongoing efforts to make State Route 156 safer, with local agencies working on upgrades that include the Castroville interchange and broader corridor improvements. Those projects are detailed by the Transportation Agency for Monterey County.
What Happens Next
Santos will serve the nine-year term in state prison following the plea deal, which resolved the criminal case, according to court filings cited by CBS Bay Area. Court records could still lay out restitution requirements and any orders related to victim-witness services as the case moves through its final administrative stages.
