A La Jolla man is on trial on charges he crashed his truck into Cass Street Café, located at 5550 La Jolla Blvd., injuring three teenagers and seriously injuring two adults in August. Testimony against Ronald Troyer, 66, who was allegedly under the influence of marijuana at the time of the incident, is expected to last through April 1 or longer in San Diego Superior Court. Troyer is accused of driving under the influence, causing great bodily injuries to four people, reckless driving, driving with a suspended driver’s license and hit and run. Witnesses testified about the Aug. 15 incident, which happened about 7 p.m., in which people received broken bones and numerous injuries. One teenager was dragged underneath the truck. Troyer’s attorney, David Thompson, told the jury of seven men and five women that Troyer suffered a seizure while he was driving, and that caused the accident. He said his client smoked marijuana the morning of the crash, but insisted he did not drink or take other drugs. Thompson said Troyer didn’t put on his brakes or steer the truck because he had a seizure and he didn’t know what happened. “This does not constitute reckless driving,” he said. Deputy District Attorney David Uyar told jurors the truck first jumped the curb, and then struck the teenagers. Then it hit a San Diego Gas & Electric transformer box and crashed into the café. Uyar said witnesses recalled Troyer emerging from the truck, saying, “Someone stole my car. I wasn’t driving.” Uyar said Troyer collected some papers from inside the truck before he tried to leave the scene twice. “He knew uniquely the dangers of driving under the influence. He chose to drive anyway,” Uyar said. According to records, Troyer’s driver’s license was suspended in 2006 because of a misdemeanor conviction of drunken driving. Troyer remains in the Vista Detention Facility on $275,000 bail.








