In 2019, a driver who collided with a group of pedestrians on a Southern California sidewalk and caused injuries to nine individuals was convicted for hit-and-run offenses. However, the charge of driving while under drug influence remained undecided as jurors were unable to reach an agreement.
Christopher Solis, a 27-year-old on trial for DUI, had the trial result in a mistrial as reported by Orange County Register. Upon hearing about this decision, Solis expressed his relief and mentioned that he was scared considering he has responsibilities to take care of including his wife and child. He also shared how emotional the entire ordeal has been while expressing remorse towards the victims every day.
In February 2019, while bars were closing and there were many pedestrians on the sidewalks of Fullerton, Solis was driving a Toyota Tacoma that mounted a curb and hit several people before crashing into a palm tree according to The Register.
Until passersby lifted the pick-up truck and freed them, various individuals were caught beneath it. A few encountered serious wounds that warranted hospitalization.
Although Solis had marijuana and another drug in his system when he was arrested on suspicion of DUI, the defense maintained that the collision was an inadvertent occurrence.
As stated by the defense counsel Alan Spears, Solis was endeavoring to escape from individuals who were pursuing him and made an effort to navigate past some unlawfully parked automobiles when one of them hit his truck. This resulted in Solis losing control of the vehicle’s steering, leading it to veer off onto the sidewalk, reported The Register.
Solis was found guilty by the jurors of hit-and-run resulting in injuries, hit-and-run causing damage to property, and drug possession.
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It is unclear if the Orange County District Attorney’s Office will retry Solis for the DUI offense, as they have not yet made a statement.
