Update: Judge Carrie Panetta has sentenced Carmel's Jeffrey Allen Moser (see story, below), age 37 of Carmel, to five years of felony probation.
The defendant was facing a possibility of six years in state prison.
Also from the Monterey County District Attorney's press release about Moser's sentencing:
"The defendant claimed he was attempting to 'mess around' with his friend Pete, the driver of the trailer, when he mistook the accelerator for the brake.
"The California Highway Patrol conducted a DUI investigation and concluded the defendant was under the influence at the time of the collision, with a blood alcohol level of .21, almost three times the legal limit.
"He admitted to consuming one vodka cranberry cocktail but stated he felt fine to drive."
•••
Editor's Note: The following story appeared at the time of the accident:
After coming to know the (at times) intense tractor-driving icon of Carmel Valley know as Tractor Pete, I figured news of an collision with his vehicle and another vehicle would be because he decided to enact vigilante justice.
No.
Oh, no, not at all.
The video that illustrates what happened is viral-ready.
It reveals a man apparently throwing shout-outs to Pete from behind him on the road, driving his own truck behind the passenger-tractor, and then rams into the tractor from behind, catapulting a passenger into Carmel Valley Road.
Carmel beat reporter Mary Schley publishes something about it in the Carmel Pine Cone tomorrow.
"The striking footage shows [the driver] behind the wheel of his bright orange Ford pickup truck, honking, yelling and flipping off the slow-moving trailer and vintage tractor being driven by 'Tractor Pete' Azevedo," she writes, "a regular sight on weekends in Carmel Valley Village.”
Here's the video. Volume is helpful to understand what happened, though WTFs remain:
The driver of the truck, Jeffrey Moser, was arrested by California Highway Patrol on suspicion of DUI causing injury, a felony.
He appeared in court Nov. 22 to plead. For more on that, check out "Man who slams into Tractor Pete pleads not guilty to felonies."
(5) comments
this was not a joke - nothing about it is funny - he got a slap on the wrist? disgusting. knowing this person I can say IM NOT SURPRISED when I came across this article....
I watched the video and clearly the man was inebriated and was in the absolute wrong.
I’m happy nothing worse happened. This could have really bad.
I noticed how many vehicles were behind the tractor. Aren’t California drivers supposed to pull over to let people pass? Even a driver not inebriated can have road rage. To keep drivers and passengers safe the tractor should have pulled over. Some drivers do not have the ability to hold in the anger.
A very important point that particularly affects you on the Pacific Coast Highway is that California driving regulations require you to use a turn-out or to pull over wherever you safely can do, if you have five or more vehicles following you.
So, despite drunk road ragers, courtesy goes a long way.
So, I can't believe this guy only got probation. He comes from a rich family so I'm not surprised . I used to work at a local store and him and his wife would come in every day and buy a handle of Tito's Vodka. This dude is a serious alcoholic and needs to be locked up. Sad to say but money talks and BS walks. If it was anyone else they would have been locked up no questions asked. This was even caught on video! They only gave him a slap on the wrist. Our local court system especially in California is a joke. The Judge in this case needs to have his head examined for such a horrible ruling.
Drain the swamp!
Make America Great Again! [beam]
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