Prosecutors Allege DUI in San Mateo Sidewalk Crash that Injured Teacher, Students

(Images show the scene in San Mateo on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014 after a car hit four pedestrians. Courtesy: D. Clark)

By Bay City News Service:

A San Mateo man arrested for allegedly driving onto a sidewalk and hitting three special education students and their teacher while under the influence of prescription drugs in September has been charged with a slew of crimes in connection with the collision.

John Zborowski, 53, pleaded not guilty in a Redwood City courtroom on Friday to charges of DUI causing great bodily injury and for allegedly driving without a valid license, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

The arraignment came a day after his arrest in connection with the Sept. 10 crash in the 300 block of West Hillsdale Boulevard near the San Mateo Public Library, according to police.

Police said Zborowski was driving under the influence of prescription medication around 11:15 a.m. on Sept. 10 when he swerved onto the sidewalk and hit a high school teacher and three special needs students who were on a school outing.

The teacher, a 28-year-old Belmont woman, suffered serious injuries in the collision including head trauma, broken ribs and broken legs, according to prosecutors. Three male students, aged 15, 16 and 18, suffered cuts and other minor injuries, police said.

All four were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

Zborowski was found passed out behind the wheel of his car and was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, according to police and prosecutors.

Police said the defendant is not suspected of driving onto the sidewalk intentionally but that investigators sought a warrant for his arrest after determining he had been driving under the influence of prescription drugs.

Prosecutors have not disclosed which prescription drugs Zborowski was taking at the time of the crash.

He is being held in San Mateo County jail on $350,000 bail.