Pedestrian in Critical Condition, Driver Arrested for Felony DUI

Lookout Staff

June 5, 2023 -- A drunk driver crashed and severely injured a pedestrian sitting on a bus bench shortly before midnight Friday, according to police.

Officers responded to a 9-1-1 call from a witness reporting a injury collision at the intersection of 26th Street and Wilshire Boulevard, police said.

A Volkswagen Jetta had "left the roadway and collided with a pedestrian seated on a bus bench," said Lt. Erika Aklufi, the Police Department spokesperson.

Responding officers found the victim -- 19-year-old male from Los Angeles -- "suffering from severe traumatic injuries to both legs," Aklufi said.

The victim was taken to UCLA Medical Center where he is in critical condition.

John Edward Alevizos (Courtesy SMPD)

Officers determined the driver of the vehicle, John Edward Alevizos, a 35-year-old resident of Los Angeles "was under the influence of alcohol," Aklufi said.

"Due to the injuries to the victim, Alevizos was arrested and booked for felony Driving Under the Influence, she said.

A driver can be charged with a felony DUI when it is the driver's 4th DUI offense within ten years, when the driven has a prior felony DUI conviction or when the driver causes an accident that killed the victim or causes bodily injury.

It is illegal for anyone 21 or older to drive with a BAC of .08 percent or higher, according to the California Driver Handbook.

It takes two drinks consumed within one hour by a woman between 120-160 pounds and three drinks by a man between 180-220 pounds to be over the legal limit.

One drink is based on 1.5 oz. of liquor (40 percent alcohol), 12 oz. of beer (4.5 percent alcohol) or a 5 oz. glass of wine (12 percent alcohol). The BAC lowers at a rate of .01 percent for every 40 minutes between drinks.

Alcohol is not the only cause of impaired driving, which is also caused by drugs, including marijuana, and some prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs, police said.

Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.