Elderly man who injured child fails to show for court again

An 83-year-old Palm Desert man who crashed his car into a fence at an elementary school, where a 10-year-old student was struck by flying
debris and ended up losing a leg, failed to show up for court for the third time.

Malcolm Ross Paterson was scheduled to appear in court for a trial readiness conference on Wednesday morning, but he was once again a no-show. The details behind his absence weren’t immediately available.

The last time Paterson failed to make it to court was July 29. He was scheduled for a felony settlement conference but his attorney said he was confused about the date.

Paterson is charged with one felony count of driving under the influence
causing injury, along with a sentence-enhancing allegation of great bodily
injury, for the Oct. 23, 2013 crash that injured 11-year-old Lincoln Elementary School student Adrian Grajeda.

The judge is holding a bench warrant he issued last month until Monday, and said Paterson has to appear then.

News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 will post updates as the case continues.