DATE: July 26, 2024
CASE: John Hayden Hart (Case #22FE019312)
PROSECUTOR: Deputy District Attorney Adriana Garcia, Major Crimes Unit
On July 24, 2024, John Hayden Hart was convicted by a jury of felony driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs causing injury and felony vehicle theft. The jury also found true multiple allegations of great bodily injury causing paralysis, great bodily injury to a child under 5 years old as well as allegations of causing injury to multiple victims in one instance of driving. Aggravating factors of great bodily injury, viciousness and/or callousness and that the victims were particularly vulnerable were also found true.
At 9:00 a.m. on October 24, 2022, Hart was driving a stolen dually truck while under the influence of methamphetamine and fentanyl. While speeding on Roseville Road, he drove into the opposing lane of traffic and collided head-on into a sedan that contained a 4-year-old child and her parents. The victims were on their way to preschool. The child suffered multiple fractures to her spine that caused permanent paralysis to her lower body. She has only since regained limited movement in her upper body, and the ability to speak and eat. She still requires the use of a trach to breathe. Both parents suffered broken legs and broken ribs, among other serious injuries.
Hart faces a maximum sentence of 32 years and 4 months in prison. Sentencing is set for August 16, 2024, in Department 37 before the Honorable Jerome Price, Jr.
