Holly MatkinHemet, CA – An off-duty Riverside County sheriff’s deputy and his 19-year-old daughter were killed in a crash caused by an alleged drunk driver over the weekend, according to investigators.
Riverside County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) Corporal Daniel Jacks, 45, and his daughter, Hannah Jacks, 19, were driving home from Hannah’s dance performance at Disneyland when the fatal collision occurred at approximately 9 p.m. on Nov. 13, KTTV reported.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) said the off-duty corporal and his daughter were traveling eastbound on Gillman Springs Road in a Honda Insight when 47-year-old Scott Bales crossed over the divided highway in his Chevrolet Silverado and slammed into them head-on, according to the Desert Sun.
Cpl. Jacks and his daughter were both pronounced dead at the scene.
Bales, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, suffered major injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment, The Sacramento Bee reported.
His 45-year-old male passenger was also severely injured in the collision and was transported to the hospital, according to the Desert Sun.
The CHP said Bales has since been booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on two counts of homicide, driving under the influence, and causing injury to his passenger, The Sacramento Bee reported.
Bales already racked up three misdemeanor drunk-driving convictions in Riverside County in 2008, 2014, and 2020, according to the Desert Sun.
He was previously also convicted of a felony driving under the influence charge in Orange County, The Sacramento Bee reported.
Bales has not had a valid driver’s license since 2005, according to the East Bay Times.
He has been convicted of driving without a license on at least three occasions.
#HappeningNow Scott Bales appears for his arraignment on murder charges in the deaths of @RSO correctional corporal Daniel Jacks Jr. & his daughter Hannah. Bales is of accused of driving while intoxicated. pic.twitter.com/KbEBYv7NZT
— Leticia Juarez (@ABC7Leticia) November 17, 2022
Hannah Jacks was a dance instructor at The Dancers’ Studio in Hamet, The Sacramento Bee reported.
“She was very kind and nice to us,” one of her students told KTTV.
Her friend described her as being “the sweetest, kindest, most loving soul you would have ever met,” The Sacramento Bee reported.
“She was perfect in everything and I mean EVERYTHING she did. Her singing, her dancing, her personality,” the friend said. “My heart aches knowing I was going to see her in a few short weeks to see her dancing in the Disneyland Christmas parade.”
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Corporal Daniel Jacks and his daughter Hannah. They passed away due to a traffic accident caused by a drunk driver. Corporal Jacks was part of the @RSO since 2008. https://t.co/kfy26UaXlE pic.twitter.com/w6M17hCasg
— Riverside Sheriffs' Association (@RSA1943) November 16, 2022
Cpl. Jacks joined the RCSD in 2008, the Desert Sun reported.
After graduating from the sheriff’s academy, he was assigned as a corrections deputy at the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio.
Cpl. Jacks later spent a brief stint at the Palm Desert Station before returning to the facility in Indio, the Desert Sun reported.
He was promoted to the rank of correctional corporal in 2022 and was working in a supervisory role within the jail at the time of his death.
Cpl. Jacks leaves behind his wife, Denay, and his 16-year-old son, Brent, according to The Sacramento Bee.
He is also survived by his father, Daniel Sr., and his brothers, Tommy and Anthony.
Sandy Malone
