An Orange County man has been charged under suspicion of driving under the influence of both alcohol and drugs after an accident in Laguna Niguel earlier this month that left a pedestrian critically injured.
The Patch.com website reports that James Daniel Forsyth, 54, struck a man at the intersection of Alicia Parkway and Niguel Road on Wednesday, July 3rd. The male victim, whose identity has not been released by authorities, was taken to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo. The crash victim remains in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.
Orange County Sheriff’s deputies at the scene found that Forsyth’s blood-alcohol level was .10 which is over the California legal limit of .08 percent BAC. Forsyth was also found to have been on oxycodone and alprazolam at the time of his arrest.
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Charges filed with the Orange County’s District Attorney’s Office against Forsyth include driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs while causing injury. Both charges are considered felonies. Sentencing enhancements include provision for causing great bodily injury leaving the victim comatose or paralyzed. Forsyth also faces a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance.
Forsyth, who is currently being held in the Orange County Jail, pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. He is being held on $1 million bond.
Authorities report that Forsyth is due to appear before the judge at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach on July 30th for a pre-trial hearing.
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