Office of the District Attorney - Maggie Fleming, District Attorney
News Release
January 15, 2016
On December 17, 2015, Donald Watts pled guilty to a single count of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence (Penal Code section 191.5(b)), and also admitted an allegation of Vehicle Code section 20001(c), fleeing the scene after commission of Penal Code section 191.5(b). Today Judge Miles sentenced Mr. Watts to 7 years in prison.
The crimes occurred in the evening of June 8, 2015 in Arcata, when Mr. Watts struck 23-year-old Daniel Pudlicki with his truck, as Mr. Pudlicki was crossing Samoa Boulevard at I Street in the crosswalk. After colliding with Daniel, Mr. Watts proceeded along Samoa Boulevard for two blocks, then made a right-hand turn onto K Street. He circled back around the block and stopped at the intersection of J Street and Samoa Boulevard, where he had an unobstructed view of the crime scene. Mr. Watts then turned onto Samoa Boulevard and drove off. Citizens at the scene provided a description of the truck and one citizen took video of the truck driving away. Arcata Police Officers were able to relay the description including partial vehicle plate information from viewing the video. After that information was rapidly shared, a California Highway Patrol Officer located Mr. Watts within 15 minutes of the collision as he drove across the Samoa Bridge into Eureka. Mr. Watts displayed symptoms of intoxication and admitted to having consumed alcohol prior to driving. A preliminary alcohol screening test revealed his blood alcohol content to be 0.14%. Mr. Watts was transported to St. Joseph Hospital for a blood draw that was obtained at midnight. Mr. Watts’ blood alcohol content was 0.09% over four hours after he hit Mr. Pudlicki. A person is deemed under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol content of 0.08%.
On July 2, 2015, Daniel Pudlicki died as a result of the traumatic brain injury he suffered from the collision.
Friends and family of Mr. Pudlicki addressed the Court today prior to the Judge sentencing the 55-year-old defendant to prison.