MADERA COUNTY – The Madera Superior Court has handed down a prison sentence to Cathy Robertson, who was convicted in July of felony Driving Under the Influence causing great bodily injury, and felony Hit and Run in a crash involving Oakhurst physician John McBride.
On Jan. 20, Robertson, 52, of Los Banos, drove away from the Chukchansi Casino in an intoxicated state just after 8 p.m., headed south on Highway 41.
She drifted across the center line into the northbound traffic, smashing head-on into Dr. McBride’s vehicle. McBride suffered major injuries in the collision, and had to be airlifted to Community Regional Medical Center.
Robertson then got out of her vehicle and fled the collision, reportedly hiding in the bushes. However, witnesses at the scene followed her and kept her in view until the CHP arrived to take her into custody.
On Thursday, Sept. 19, the court sentenced Robertson to five years in state prison and remanded her into custody to begin serving her sentence immediately.
“Dr. McBride will suffer for years from the physical injuries he received from Robertson,” said District Attorney Michael Keitz. “Drinking and driving are a bad combination that often end in tragic consequences as it did here. The simple message is: if you drink or use drugs, don’t drive.”
This DUI prosecution was made possible through funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, says the District Attorney’s Office.
