SANTA MARIA, Calif. - 36-year old Benjamin Bettencourt is behind bars after California Highway Patrol says he struck a tree while driving on Highway 246 east of Ballard Canyon Road on Saturday night. The passenger was seriously injured with severe head trauma.
This isn't Bettencourt's first run in with the law for driving-related crimes. Bettencourt made his first appearance in court Tuesday, just days after the accident. Based on the charges filed, alcohol was a factor in the crash.
Bettencourt showed up at his arraignment on Tuesday in a wheelchair. He was charged with 2 counts of felony DUI causing great bodily injury. He did not enter a plea and was assigned a public defender.
The passenger in the car was Jennifer Clark of Los Olivos. She suffered severe head trauma and remains in critical condition according to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. The charges against Bettencourt also had a special allegation due to the brain injuries that Clark suffered.
This is not the first time Bettencourt was involved in a crash. In 1998 in Santa Ynez, Bettencourt was involved with a crash that killed passenger Leslie Alejo. Bettencourt was charged with non-alcohol related vehicular manslaughter in that case. He was also driving with a suspended license at the time. According to those familiar with Bettencourt, the crash in 1998 left him a paraplegic. Court records from that case show that Bettencourt had been pulled over by police and cited 11 times for driving-related instances from 1993 to 1997.
Bettencourt's arraignment on his current case was continued to early next month.
