A man who caused the deaths of two horses in an alcohol-fueled crash at a Jurupa Valley intersection pleaded guilty Thursday to drunken driving and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
David Avila, 52, was also sentenced to three years probation and must also take part in a Mothers Against Drunk Drivers victim impact panel within the next three months, according to the terms of his probation.
According to Riverside County fire and sheriff’s officials, Avila was driving a pickup truck through the intersection of Etiwanda Avenue and Jurupa Road about 8 p.m. last Sept. 17 when he lost control of the vehicle, which plowed into a utility pole. The impact caused the horse trailer to overturn, landing on its roof.
One horse died inside the trailer. The second was rescued by volunteers from the Norco Animal Response Team and county Department of Animal Services personnel, but had to be euthanized due to the extent of its injuries.
Avila suffered minor injuries in the crash and was taken to Riverside Community Hospital for treatment before being booked into jail.
–City News Service