Photo: ANDRI TAMBUNAN / AFP / Getty Images
An off-duty Riverside County Correctional Officer and his daughter of 45 years died Sunday night in a frontal accident caused by a man who was driving under the influence of alcohol near the city of San Jacinto.
The officer Daniel Jacks Jr., aged 45 years ; and their 15 year-old daughter, Hannah Jacks, died in the place where the mishap occurred, reported the CHP.
The alleged culprit has previously been convicted three times for drunk driving and was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and DUI.
Authorities reported that the incident occurred shortly before 9: 07 pm on Gilman Springs Road, east of Bridge Street.
Officers said Scott Brandon Bales, 47 years old and a resident of Moreno Valley, was driving a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck westbound in Gilman Springs when it crossed the centerline of the highway and entered the oncoming lane and into a head-on collision with Jacks’ Honda Insight.
Bales and the person who was traveling with him, a man from 47 years, were hospitalized and both were expected to survive, the Patrol spokesman said California Highway Patrol (CHP), Jason Montez.
Bales was also arrested on suspicion of DUI causing bodily injury, the CHP said.
Under California law, Bales can be charged with second degree murder on the theory of implied malice. Prosecutors could argue that, because of his prior DUI convictions, Bales should have known, or been told, that driving under the influence of alcohol could cause injury or death to himself or others.
A second degree murder conviction could earn Bales a sentence of 11 years to life in state prison.
Riverside County Superior Court records indicate that Bales was convicted in 1200 for a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of alcohol and doing so without a license, for which he was sentenced to 100 days to serve on weekends and 19 days on the Sheriff’s work schedule.
In 2011, Bales pleaded guilty to misdemeanor DUI and driving without a license. He was sentenced to 100 days in the Sheriff’s probation program and 5 years of probation. He was ordered to attend 19 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and wear an alcohol detection.
In 2015, Bales pleaded guilty to one felony count of speeding, drunk driving without a license. Online court records show he was sentenced to one year of supervised release.
According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Daniel Jacks Jr. was a corporal at the John Benoit Detention Center, in Indio.
A Daniel Jacks Jr. is survived by his wife Denay, son Brent, father Daniel Sr., and brothers Anthony and Tommy.
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