Former Marine gets 11 years in prison for DUI crash that killed three

A former Marine was sentenced to 11 years in prison Friday after being convicted of killing three friends in a drunk-driving accident. The three victims were fellow Marines stationed at Marine Corp Base Camp Pendleton.

Jared Ray Hale, 28, was convicted Dec. 10 of one felony count each of driving under the influence causing bodily injury and driving with a blood-alcohol limit of .08% or more causing bodily injury, including sentencing enhancements, according to a statement from the Orange County district attorney’s office.

The incident happened around 2 a.m. on Feb. 12, 2012, after a night of drinking at Hennessey’s Tavern in Dana Point, when Hale crashed his car into a tree near Golden Lantern, according to the statement.

Jeremiah Callahan, 23, of Nebraska, and Christopher Arzola, 21, of Massachusetts, died at the scene. Jason Chleborad, 22, of South Dakota, died at a nearby hospital hours later.

Hale lost consciousness in the crash and was treated for brain trauma and a fractured arm. About 90 minutes after the crash, his blood-alcohol level was 0.16% -- twice the legal limit, prosecutors said.

Before sentencing, the judge listened to impact statements from the victims’ families.

“There will always be a place at the table that is vacant for every family meal, every milestone and every holiday,” Chleborad’s mother said in statement, according to the release. “Our loss, as well as that of the other two families, is the same.”

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