A 28-year-old Moorpark man has been sentenced to more than five years in prison for a DUI crash that injured two Simi Valley police officers and caused significant damage to patrol vehicles.
Luis Fernando Piceno received a five-year, four-month prison sentence on July 24, following his guilty plea in a case stemming from an October 2024 crash. The incident occurred on Tapo Canyon Road in Simi Valley, where Piceno was driving at speeds between 80 and 90 miles per hour before crashing into two marked patrol vehicles.
The crash took place on the night of October 24, 2024. Both officers in the vehicles were injured and transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Authorities determined that Piceno had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.13%, well above California’s legal limit of 0.08%. This crash marked Piceno’s second DUI conviction.
In court proceedings, Piceno pleaded guilty to:
- DUI causing injury
- Causing great bodily injury during the commission of a felony
- Causing injury to more than one victim
- Having a prior conviction for drunk driving
Along with his prison sentence, Piceno’s driver’s license was revoked for three years. He was also ordered to pay nearly $41,000 in restitution to the Simi Valley Police Department to cover damage to the patrol vehicles involved in the crash.
“This case shows the devastating and lasting consequences of impaired driving,” said Ventura County Deputy District Attorney Jillian Ewan, who prosecuted the case. “We are thankful the officers are alive today. The District Attorney’s Office is committed to holding impaired drivers accountable and keeping Ventura County safe.”
The case serves as a stark reminder of the risks of driving under the influence and the legal and personal costs that can follow.
