Witness Takes Keys from Stumbling Driver

In June, an off-duty firefighter was almost struck by a black BMW in the parking lot of the Leucadia Liquor Store, according to testimony in the Vista courthouse on September 12.

The firefighter-witness watched William Norman Hay get out of his car and fall to the ground as he walked toward the store and then stumble to the ground again while making his way back to his car. The witness intervened when the driver tried to leave, putting the car in park and taking the keys out of the BMW’s ignition. The witness then called 911, according to sheriff’s deputy Brenda Wieb.

The deputy said she arrived at about 5 p.m. on June 28 and saw “There were open bottles of alcohol in the vehicle, vodka bottles.” Deputy Wieb said Hay failed field sobriety tests; she allowed him to rest seated on a curb because he could not stand upright.

Wieb arrested Hay, 51; his blood alcohol level tested at .28, according to prosecutor George Loyd. The prosecutor is alleging Hay has a prior felony DUI conviction from 2004 and three prior DUI convictions before that date.

Judge Runston Maino ordered Hay to stand trial on felony DUI charges.

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