Central Coast News KION/KCBACastroville Man Guilty in DUI Accident that Injured His Dad

CASTROVILLE, Calif- A Castroville man was found guilty after he injured his dad in a DUI accident in 2008.

Here is the news release from the District Attorney's Office

Monterey County District Attorney Dean Flippo announced today that Zeferino Francisco Matias, age 21 and a resident of Castroville, was convicted of driving under the influence causing great bodily injury, driving with a .08 blood-alcohol level or higher causing great bodily injury and driving without a license. The jury hearing the case in Salinas returned guilty verdicts for all charged offenses.

The testimony showed that on May 31, 2008, Matias drove his vehicle into the back of a tractor while traveling on Nashua Road near Salinas. Matias drove at a high rate of speed into the tractor's rear blade ripping back the roof of his Chrysler. The front passenger, Matias' father, was severely injured during the accident and had to be airlifted to Santa Clara Medical Center. The victim spent almost two weeks in the hospital recovering from fractures to most of the bones in his face. The evidence showed that Matias drove with over a .19 blood-alcohol level and did not possess a valid California driver's license.

Officers from the California Highway Patrol and DA Investigator Ryan McGuirk conducted the investigation and arrest in this incident.

Sentencing will be heard on October 18, 2011, at 8:45 in Department 4 in front of Judge Mark Hood. Matias is facing up to six years in California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.