A California lawsuit says two Cal Poly students were struck and badly hurt in a nighttime crash, and a judge has now ordered the felony case against the accused driver to proceed toward trial.
Story Highlights
- Two Cal Poly women were injured in a January 8 crash near campus; police arrested a student suspect.
- A civil suit filed July 10 names the driver and alleges negligence and alcohol-related conduct.
- Felony driving under the influence and hit-and-run charges advanced after a preliminary hearing.
- The complaint also targets a fraternity and individuals tied to an alleged alcohol event.
Police Identify Crash, Arrest, and Location Near Campus
San Luis Obispo Police reported that two women were seriously injured around 9:30 p.m. on January 8 on the 100 block of Crandall Way near the California Polytechnic State University campus. Officers said witnesses helped them locate a dark gray Tesla Model 3, and they arrested student Ishan Pandhare in connection with the crash. Police described the case as a hit-and-run causing injuries to pedestrians near campus streets with heavy student foot traffic.
Local reporting states prosecutors later filed felony charges, including driving under the influence causing injury, reckless driving causing specified injuries, and hit-and-run causing injury. Court coverage says Pandhare pleaded not guilty on February 4. The accusations now move through the courts as a serious felony case, while the defense contests the charges. That is standard procedure until a jury or judge decides the facts beyond a reasonable doubt in a criminal court.
Civil Lawsuit Alleges Negligence and Alcohol-Related Misconduct
A separate civil complaint filed July 10 in San Luis Obispo County names Pandhare and alleges negligence arising from the January 8 collision, according to local records and reports. The suit was brought by plaintiffs identified in coverage as students injured in the crash. The complaint seeks compensation for medical care, pain, and other losses. Civil claims use a lower “preponderance of evidence” standard than criminal cases and can proceed even while a criminal case is pending.
Reporting on the complaint says the plaintiffs also named the Kappa Sigma fraternity and two members, Aidan Jameson Kennedy and Kip Stackle, alleging they provided or facilitated alcohol for an underage driver and connected it to a fraternity event. The complaint further alleges Kennedy owned the Tesla and allowed Pandhare to drive it despite signs of impairment. These are allegation summaries from coverage; the full evidence will come out through discovery and depositions.
Judge Sends Felony Counts Toward Trial After Hearing Testimony
A San Luis Obispo Tribune report says a judge ruled the defendant must stand trial on felony driving under the influence and hit-and-run charges after a preliminary witness testified about the force of impact, including that one victim was launched and traveled an estimated 20 to 30 feet. A preliminary hearing is a screening step to test if prosecutors showed enough to move forward. The ruling does not decide guilt, but it keeps the felony charges alive for trial.
Mustang News reported the early investigation focused on impairment and speed, with the Tesla found several blocks away the next morning. Those details align with the hit-and-run allegation and injury claims. The defense will have a chance to challenge the state’s evidence, including any crash reconstruction and toxicology. For now, the record shows a serious case with two injured pedestrians and a pending trial path set by the court.
What Parents and Students Should Know About Risk and Responsibility
This case shows how fast a campus-area night can turn from routine to life-changing. Alcohol, speed, and pedestrians make a deadly mix. Prosecutors say the driver fled and injured two women; a civil suit says others helped supply alcohol. California law often makes it hard to pin liability on social hosts or groups, but it does not excuse reckless driving or fleeing the scene. Families want safe streets and real accountability when people get hurt.
Conservative readers see a larger pattern. Personal responsibility matters. Choices behind the wheel can ruin lives. Local authorities made the arrest. A judge advanced the felony counts. A civil suit now seeks to cover medical bills and other losses. That is how the system should work: facts first, accountability next, and no free pass for dangerous behavior. As the Trump administration backs law and order, communities expect firm consequences for harm done to innocent people.
Sources:
nypost.com, m.dailyadvent.com, mustangnews.net
