Marina man sentenced to more than eight years for DUI vehicular manslaughter of Salinas man
SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV)- UPDATE ON JULY 27, 2023 AT 5:15 PM- A 40-year-old Marina man has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated according to the Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni
Daniel Wetle was sentenced to eight years and eight months in state prison for causing a DUI crash that killed 48-year-old Wsvaldo Perez Vazquez of Salinas on Aug. 13, 2022. The crash also seriously injured Vazquez's wife.
The crash happened around 6 p.m. on Highway 68 east of Spreckels Road. According to Pacioni, Wetle was driving westbound in a rented BMW Sedan when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed head-on into a 2017 Toyota Camry which killed Vazquez and injured his wife.
The California Highway Patrol contacted Wetle who was trapped in the driver's seat of his vehicle shortly after the crash.
Pacioni said that Wetle was found uninjured but exhibited signs of being under the influence of alcohol.
A subsequent blood test showed that Wetle had a blood alcohol level of .101.
Marina man faces almost 12 years for vehicular manslaughter of Salinas man
UPDATE May 18, 2023, at 4:51 p.m.- A 40-year-old man pleaded no contest Thursday for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated that occurred on August 13, 2022, just before 6 p.m, per the Monterey County District Attorney's Office.
Daniel Wetle was also found guilty of one count of driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury and admitting an enhancement that he personally inflicted great bodily injury on the victim, said Pacioni.
Wetle hit a 2017 Toyota Camry on Highway 68 east of Spreckels Road resulting in the death of Wsvaldo Perez Vazquez, 48, from Salinas, according to CHP. He was driving a rented BMW sedan at the time of the crash and instantly killed Vazquez.
Pacioni said Wetle was found driving with a blood alcohol level of .101.
He faces 11 years and eight months in state prison for these charges at his sentencing hearing on June 26, 2023, per Pacioni.
Marina man charged with vehicular manslaughter held on no bail
UPDATE August 17, 2022, at 3:51 p.m.- A man accused of DUI and vehicular manslaughter charges after a crash on Spreckels Road Saturday made his first court appearance on those charges Wednesday.
Daniel John Wetle has a previous arrested in March of 2022, for trafficking drugs and guns, according to Marian Police. He was caught in this crime after crashing his car.
"Wetle admitted to having ties to Mexican Cartels and that he sells the drugs for the cartel since his brother was recently arrested for selling cocaine," according to court documents after his arrest in March.
Also, Wetle's mother works for a fishing boat company. Authorities found $30,000 wrapped in a fishing vessel, according to court documents.
What was decided in court Wednesday was to combine both cases, and he is scheduled for arraignment on August 23.
He will be held on no bail.
Marina man charged with vehicular manslaughter was arrested for narcotics and guns in March
A suspect who is being charged with a DUI and vehicular manslaughter in a crash that occurred on Spreckels Road Saturday was arrested back in March on narcotics charges, confirmed the Monterey County Sheriff's Office.
Daniel John Wetle was involved in a crash on the 400 block of California Drive on March 28. He was found with an AR-15 in his car, allege Marina Police.
Read more: Marina man arrested with over 10 guns and narcotics
His home was later searched, and several handguns, assault weapons, around 1,000 Xanax-style pills, over a pound of cocaine, other narcotics, and a large amount of cash were found, according to Marina Police.
On Saturday, Wetle was charged after he hit a 2017 Toyota Camry on Highway 68 east of Spreckels Road resulting in the death Wsvaldo Perez Vazquez, 48, from Salinas, according to CHP.
Wetle, 40, of Marina, was arrested and charged with vehicular manslaughter and DUI. He was booked into Monterey County Jail.
Read more: Three killed in three crashes in three days in Monterey County
He is in court Tuesday for the narcotics charges he received in March.
