A previously convicted drunken driver received a sentence of 15 years to life Thursday for striking and killing an active-duty Marine from Camp Pendleton two years ago.
William Edward Vaden, 33, pleaded guilty last month to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated in connection with the death of Juan Muniz III, who was hit on an Oceanside street early on the morning of Jan. 26, 2020.
Muniz, 22, was crossing Coast Highway near Sportfisher Drive at around 1:10 a.m, according to police and prosecutors. Paramedics responded to the scene and took him to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later, the Medical Examiner’s Office reported.
Vaden, who remained at the scene, was initially arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. He was charged about six months later with murder, due to a 2010 San Diego County DUI conviction.
At Vaden’s arraignment, Deputy District Attorney David Uyar said the defendant’s blood-alcohol content registered at .22%, nearly three times the legal limit.
The prosecutor said Vaden finished work and stopped by several Oceanside-area bars prior to the fatal collision.
– City News Service