The lawsuit, filed in July, accuses Pandhare of driving under the influence after attending two parties in the Los Angeles area. Witnesses say he was visibly intoxicated, slurring his speech, and failed to brake before striking Lilianne Burke and Zoey Archibald. Theo Emison, Archibald’s attorney, told the San Luis Obispo Tribune that the driver “cowardly fled the scene” after the impact.
Pandhare has been charged with DUI causing bodily injury, reckless driving causing injury and a separate hit‑and‑run case. He pleaded not guilty in that proceeding, while the Cal Poly lawsuit seeks damages for the victims’ physical injuries and emotional distress. Christopher Dolan, Burke’s attorney, emphasized that “there were layers of failure” that could have been avoided if the law had been followed by those who supplied alcohol or encouraged its consumption.
The two students were left bleeding and air‑lifted to a hospital in San Luis Obispo, where both required surgery and ongoing treatment. The lawsuit alleges that Pandhare “never used the brakes or made any attempt to slow down before or after the accident,” leaving the victims in a state described as “run‑over garbage.”
Pandhare, suspended from Cal Poly and posted a $150,000 bail, is currently residing in San Diego with his parents. He appeared in court on Monday, supported by his mother and father in the gallery, as the case moves toward a preliminary hearing scheduled for September 5, 2024. The lawsuit also names the Kappa Sigma fraternity for allegedly encouraging underage drinking at the parties attended by Pandhare.