A man who drove his car into a storefront in Bird Rock last year, injuring five people, was convicted today of driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, hit and run, and driving on a suspended license. He could spend up to 15 years in jail.
Ronald Troyer, 66, has two prior DUI convictions and several convictions for driving on a suspended license.
On Aug. 15, 2010, Troyer drove his car into the on the 5500 block of La Jolla Boulevard. A teenage girl was pinned under the vehicle, two additional teenagers suffered broken bones, and a couple was also injured.
“It was very tough to see Troyer,” said one of the teens hit by Troyer’s car. “For all the tough times he brought on me and my family.”
Deputy District Attorney David Uyar said that Troyer tried to shift the blame after the crash, saying things like “Someone stole my car,” “I wasn’t driving” and “I must have blacked out.” Uyar also reported Troyer’s blood was tested three hours after the crash and marijuana was found in his system.
However, defense attorney David Thompson told the jury there was reasonable doubt that Troyer was under the influence at the time of the crash and suggested he suffered a seizure.
Passenger Jeffrey Stewart testified that he tried to get Troyer to pull over just before the crash. Stewart said Troyer struck the curb of a roundabout and then “put the pedal to the metal” and took his hands off the steering wheel before hitting the bakery.
City News Service contributed to this report.
