People v. Gordon CA3

FACTS

On November 2, 2012, defendant turned his car in front of an oncoming van driven by John Foley. Foley attempted to stop but was unable to do so and crashed into defendant’s car. Foley’s three young children, who were in the van, suffered minor injuries. Defendant’s car sustained damage to the front and passenger side and Foley’s van had extensive front end damage. Defendant fled the scene after the accident. A

2 The California Supreme Court subsequently granted review in Martinez, which is no longer citable. (Martinez, supra, 226 Cal.App.4th 1156, review granted Sept. 10, 2014,

S219970.)

2 search of defendant’s car revealed over 75 grams of marijuana (net weight) and a digital camera containing defendant’s photograph, which led to his arrest. Defendant entered a negotiated plea of no contest to leaving the scene of an injury accident, a violation of Vehicle Code section 20001, subdivision (a), which provides: “The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident and shall fulfill the requirements of Sections 20003 and…