A repeat drunken driver who got behind the wheel despite a revoked license, causing a rear-end crash that pushed a minivan into a crowd of people looking at holiday lights in Alhambra, pleaded no contest Tuesday to DUI and other charges.
Ismael Soto, 29, of Los Angeles, entered his plea to driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury within 10 years of two other DUI offenses; driving with a 0.08 percent or higher blood alcohol content causing injury; driving when his privilege was suspended or revoked for a DUI conviction; and driving a vehicle not equipped with an ignition interlock device when his driving privilege was restricted.
Soto also admitted allegations that he drove at an excessive speed, that he had a blood-alcohol content of more than 0.20 percent and that more than one person suffered great bodily injury, along with admitting he was convicted in 2013 of having a 0.08 percent or higher blood-alcohol content and driving when the privilege was suspended or revoked.
Alhambra police said Soto was driving north on Fremont Avenue when his pickup truck crossed over the double yellow line and struck two occupied minivans parked on the south side of the street, sending one of them over the curb and into a residential driveway, where the pedestrians were struck just before 8:40 p.m. last Dec. 14.
Police said that 11 people were taken for hospital treatment.
Soto was arrested shortly after the crash and has remained in jail since then.
— Wire Reports