Ronald Troyer was sentenced to nearly 17 years in prison on May 4 for driving his car while under the influence of marijuana and seriously injuring four people when he slammed into a La Jolla restaurant last year. Troyer, 66, of La Jolla, received the maximum sentence of 16 years and eight months from San Diego Superior Court Judge William Kronberger, Jr., who also fined him more than $10,000. The judge imposed three years, consecutively, for the four victims who suffered great bodily injuries on Aug. 13 when Troyer’s vehicle struck three teenagers on the sidewalk and crashed into the Cass Street Café, located at 5550 La Jolla Blvd. around 7 p.m. Kronberger imposed four years for Troyer’s conviction of reckless driving while under the influence of marijuana, to run consecutively with the 12 years for the victims’ injuries. He then added eight months for Troyer’s hit-and-run conviction. “I feel justice was done,” said crash victim Ian Brininstool, 15, who suffered broken bones. “I’m fine. I’m recovered. I’m doing well.” Alani Aguerre, 14, suffered a broken pelvis and underwent at least three surgeries. She also had a broken arm and leg. She told reporters after the hearing that she had recovered, but “it will always be with me.” She said Troyer knew he was driving dangerously. “What they went through, no one should have to go through,” said Lorne Polger, the father of teen victim Myles Polger. “Finally justice was served. What happened to the kids won’t happen to anyone else.” Kronberger ordered Troyer to pay more than $6,000 in medical expenses to Brininstool and more than $11,000 to Aguerre. The other victims’ bills are still being tabulated and will be addressed in a June 23 restitution hearing. Kronberger said Troyer had “a lifetime of bad decision making,” such as when he was convicted in 1963 of reckless driving when he was 19. Kronberger said Troyer was in possession of alcohol at that time, and accumulated six convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs from 1988 to 2007. Troyer’s license was suspended in 2005, but he continued driving. His attorney had argued unsuccessfully to jurors that he suffered a seizure and was not under the influence of marijuana when he struck the teens and crashed into the restaurant. “My major concern is for those that were hurt and that they heal so completely they don’t have to think about this again,” Troyer said to the judge. When Troyer got out of his car at the crash, several witnesses testified he yelled “somebody stole my car” and tried to claim he wasn’t the driver. Witnesses said he attempted to leave the scene twice, but was detained. The jury convicted Troyer of all charges on April 6 after several hours of deliberations. He received credit for 299 days already served in jail since the incident.