A man who tore up the streets of San Diego in a souped-up, off-road Volkswagen in a viral video seen by more than a million people pleaded guilty to
several charges Monday, including reckless driving.
Blake Wilkey, 27, who was originally charged with 26 counts, pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor charges of reckless driving, one count of exhibition
speed and one count of failing to obtain a special event permit.
He was sentenced to 45 days in jail and placed on three years probation.
Wilkey was the smiling driver in the video called “Urban Assault: San Diego Shark Attack,” which was posted on YouTube in January and has since racked
up 1,197,713 views.
In the 4˝-minute video, Wilkey is seen speeding through various San Diego neighborhoods including downtown and Ocean Beach, driving up embankments and
over curbs, onto public and private property alike as the Baja bug kicks up dirt in an engine-revving, tire-squealing display.
Wilkey seemed to be having a pretty good time. But whatever euphoria he might have had seemed to evaporate after he found out he was under
investigation by San Diego police.
In a Facebook post on Feb. 1 he said:
“I guess having to much fun on the streets of San Diego can cost you a lot more than you would think after its all said and done. It's not expected
its appreciated so don't get it twisted! I hope you all enjoyed the video and use me as example of what not to do.”
Wilkey posted even more somberly last week:
"Monday morning at 8 am downtown I will be facing a judge on 26 misdemeanor accounts for the urban assault video. This was not taken lightly by the
prosecutor and I hope it won't be to heavy of a burden on me after its all said and done. If you would like to come show some support and see how it
all unfolds let me know! Strength in numbers."
In 1957 I was sentenced to 3 days in jail by a judge in San Diego for having loud exhaust pipes. Told me that i was a hot rodder and that he hated hot
rodders.
These types end up hitting someone and then complaining about slow people in a crosswalk.
There was a guy in my home town of Olympia, WA who went pretty much nuts in this way. He crashed. Between when the cops hauled him off and when the
wrecker got there his vehicle somehow caught fire and no one called the fire department.
We all pitched in to clean up the mess. So sad. Never saw a group with brooms and such wide smiles.
The official investigation decided that it was a fire of electrical origin.
It is not a Truggy, which is a front or mid engine car with a differential. This is a rear engine car with a trans-axle
. Engine was probably a V8 with a blower----not a VW....
My first car was a Baja bug. I remember the thrill of being a young driver and operating one of those around town. There was a lot more open space in
San Diego then, and many fewer residents.
That said: how could the driver and his friends possibly think this was OK in 2016?
The physical damage was costly- someone paid for installing that landscaping. Were they going to pay for the repairs?
The noise and disruption during the "production" was disrespectful to residents in their homes, and reckless.
His driving was dangerous, especially with other vehicles and pedestrians around.
Seriously: you want to show off your vehicle, and drive like they do in the "Fast/Furious" movies? Then head out to the desert, or rent an empty piece
of private land, and knock yourself out- just do it away from homes, pedestrians, other people's cars, property etc.
He received an appropriate sentence. He should also pay restitution for damages, and be glad he didn't injure or kill himself or someone else.
(PS- aside from involving a Baja bug, how is this related to Baja?)
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
"If it were lush and rich, one could understand the pull, but it is fierce and hostile and sullen.
The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back
if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." - Theodore Roosevelt
"You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them or to them." - Malcolm Forbes
"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others
cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you." - Jim Rohn
"The best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question; it's to post the wrong answer." - Cunningham's Law
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