Salinas Man Sentenced to 2 years in Prison for Evading Officers and DUI Crash Causing Injury in Greenfield

SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on Thursday, November 19 that 28-year-old Eric Anthony Magana of Salinas, has been sentenced to 2 years in prison for driving with a blood alcohol content of over .08%, causing injury, and for evading police officers with reckless disregard for the safety of the public. On July 11, 2020 at 4:20 p.m., an officer of the California Highway Patrol in Greenfield was stopped at the shoulder of US-101 South at the El Camino Real overcrossing near Thorne Road, when he observed a dark sedan traveling at approximately 90 mph down the highway. The officer activated his lights and sirens, however the sedan, driven by Magana, refused to yield. Eventually, Magana left US 101 via the Greenfield exit of Walnut Avenue. Magana turned onto 12th Street from Walnut Avenue and sped through a stop sign at the street’s intersection with Cherry Avenue. Magana continued to speed down 12th Street, running stop signs at its intersections with Apple Avenue, and Oak Avenue. As Magana sped through 12th Street’s intersection with Elm Avenue, he caused a collision with a Nissan Frontier, causing non-life threating injuries to that vehicle’s occupants. Magana was largely uncooperative with the DUI investigation conducted at the scene of the collision; however, he did submit to a chemical test that revealed his blood alcohol content was .09%. In California, anyone who drives with a blood alcohol content of .08% or higher is legally presumed to be driving under the influence of alcohol, regardless of poor driving. On Thursday, November 19 Judge Carrie M. Panetta sentenced Magana to serve 2 years in prison. This case was investigated by California Highway Patrol Officers Brett Brown and Adam Pate.