CALIFORNIA – A third-year law student at Pepperdine University, Richard Lindwall III, has been found guilty of vehicular manslaughter for a car accident that occurred on August 3, 2017, resulting in the death of 41-year-old Carlos Méndez. Justice is finally served for the victim and his family.
According to the Orange County Prosecutor, Lindwall, 34 at the time, was driving under the influence of alcohol, with a blood alcohol level four times the legal limit. He was traveling at over 90 miles per hour on La Palma Avenue when he collided head-on with Méndez’s vehicle.
The impact was devastating. Méndez’s vehicle sustained severe damage, with the front axle separated from the engine due to the force of the crash. Sadly, Méndez did not survive his injuries.
Emergency services arriving at the scene found broken beer bottles in Lindwall’s vehicle. Blood tests revealed not only a high level of alcohol in his system but also the presence of two types of prescription drugs.
This wasn’t Lindwall’s first incident of reckless driving. In 2011, he was involved in another serious accident in Arizona, where he was driving under the influence of alcohol and at excessive speed, resulting in serious injuries to his then-girlfriend, who was a passenger at the time.
For the Arizona accident, Lindwall served one year in prison. However, this experience didn’t seem to deter him as he continued to drive under the influence. Despite disclosing his prior conviction as part of his law school application, he was accepted into Pepperdine.
This tragic case serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. Lindwall’s decision to drive while intoxicated not only cost another person’s life but also ruined his own life and career as a lawyer. It’s a reminder that reckless actions behind the wheel can have devastating and irreversible consequences.
