Scott Brandon Bales, a repeat DUI offender from Moreno Valley, California, is set to stand trial on two counts of second-degree murder and other charges following a fatal collision that claimed the lives of an off-duty Riverside County sheriff’s deputy and his daughter.
The tragic incident occurred in 2022 on Gilman Springs Road, east of Bridge Street, near San Jacinto. Bales, 48, allegedly caused the collision while driving under the influence, resulting in the deaths of Sheriff’s Corporal Daniel Jacks Jr., 45, and his 19-year-old daughter, Hannah Jacks, both residents of San Jacinto.
In addition to the murder charges, Bales faces allegations of DUI resulting in great bodily injury, along with a sentence-enhancing great bodily injury allegation. The judge scheduled a post-preliminary hearing arraignment for March 21 and maintained Bales’ bail at $2 million. Currently incarcerated at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside, Bales awaits further legal proceedings.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the collision occurred shortly after 9 p.m. when Bales, driving a Chevrolet Silverado with a front-seat passenger, veered into the eastbound traffic lane, crossing over the divided highway. Meanwhile, Jacks’ Honda Insight was approaching from the opposite direction.
The head-on collision resulted in the tragic deaths of Jacks and his daughter, who were pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Bales and his passenger, both sustaining major injuries, were transported to the county medical center in Moreno Valley for treatment.
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The case underscores the devastating consequences of driving under the influence and highlights the importance of enforcing strict penalties for repeat offenders. As the legal proceedings unfold, the community mourns the loss of Deputy Jacks and his daughter while seeking justice for their untimely deaths caused by a preventable tragedy on California roads.