Pacifica Man Pleads Not Guilty to Princeton Warehouse DUI Crash

A Pacifica man pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges of drunk driving his 2011 Cadillac through a chain link fence and into a Princeton warehouse, injuring himself and two passengers.

The car engine ignited into a blaze that subsequently caused a two-alarm fire involving commercial storage units, officials said.

The defendant, 39-year-old Mathew Burnham, is charged with felony drunk driving with additional allegations of inflicting great bodily injury and driving recklessly at 30 mph over the posted speed limit with a blood alcohol level over 0.15 percent.

He faces up to nine years in prison.

"Nine years is the maximum on these charges," said assistant District Attorney Al Serrato.

The accident occurred last weekend when the defendant was allegedly drinking at Old Princeton Landing bar and offered to drive two men and a woman home.

California Highway Patrol officials reported that Burnham lost control of his vehicle at 125 mph on Airport Boulevard and crashed into a parked boat, van and storage container before plowing into the warehouse.

The occupants were able to get out of the car and were taken to Stanford Hospital. The three males were treated for broken bones and the female passenger for minor injuries.

Fire damage to the structure, two vehicles, a trailer and a boat are estimated to be about $200,000.

Burnham remains in custody with bail set at $100,000. He is set to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on July 9.

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