A drunk driver who killed a La Jolla waiter on his way home from work was sentenced Sept. 18 to nine years in state prison. His friends told the driver the victim would have forgiven him for causing his death. Bryan Delaney, 36, worked at George’s at the Cove and was on his way to his home near University City when his motorcycle was struck by a car driven by Jeremy Salcedo, 27, of San Diego, in the early morning of July 25, 2014. Salcedo had been free on $500,000 bond until he was sentenced by San Diego Superior Court Judge Charles Rogers. He will have to serve 85 percent of the 9-year term and was ordered to pay nearly $1,300 in restitution to the family. He received credit for eight days in jail and was fined $440. Salcedo pleaded guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, drunk driving and fleeing the scene of an accident. A second-degree murder charge was dropped in July. Salcedo has two drunk driving convictions, and his driver’s license was suspended. “Brian truly was a gem. Brian would have forgiven you,” the victim’s ex-roommate, Brian Beechler, said to Salcedo. “He was an amazing individual.” Paramedic Jacy Hernandez, who was also Delaney’s friend, told the Salcedo that Delaney wanted to become a counselor for kids with disabilities. “We have lost a really great soul. He would have forgiven you,” said Hernandez. “I hope that something changes (within) you.” Salcedo made a U-turn in front of Delaney, who was ejected from his motorcycle in the 3600 block of Morena Boulevard. He abandoned his car, but a police officer saw him running and noticed the smell of alcohol. Salcedo claimed he his mother was driving the car, according to his probation report, and he told the officer he didn’t know where she went. Salcedo had a blood/alcohol level of .16, which is twice the limit for felony drunk driving, the report said. Salcedo apologized for the incident, adding that he formed a website on drunk driving and has been in multiple alcohol-related programs since the crash. Salcedo’s attorney, Andrew Flier, argued that Salcedo should receive credit for 363 days spent in home detention while on bond with a monitoring device, but Rogers denied his request. Salcedo’s family members said he was an alcoholic but that he did have remorse. — Neal Putnam