• 13
  • July
    2010

Do drunk drivers deserve a break? Benjamin Serratos, a multiple-DUI offender, is currently in jail and awaiting trial for causing the car accident that killed one 18-year-old and severely injured two others.

The fatal accident on June 12 was also Serratos' third DUI behind the wheel, having previously been charged twice for drunk driving and once for drunk boating. Serratos was also convicted of pulling a BB gun on a strip club employee in 2006, and for almost cutting a man's ear off in a bar fight in 1999.

Even with his violent background, his multiple DUIs and now the death of 18-year-old Destanee Little - even with all of these things at Benjamin Serratos' feet, his attorney and family members are arguing for bail to be lowered to an amount that would see him released.

Understandably, the family of Destanee Little is slightly adverse to this request.

On the night of the accident, drunk and speeding, Serratos had attempted to pass Little's car, but instead rear-ended her. The force sent her car into a light pole. Instead of calling for help, or attempting to assist the two injured girls, Serratos attempted to stumble away from the accident.

When police caught him, he blew a blood alcohol content reading of .21. This is more than three times the legal limit in California.

Drunk drivers are involved in thousands of car accidents every year. A good deal of these are fatal accidents, though rarely for the drunk driver.

San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Franklin Stephenson has not yet given an opinion on Serratos' request, but has agreed to consider it at a hearing next week.

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