Pilot in Cosco Busan Spill Out of Prison

The pilot of a cargo ship that struck the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is out of prison after completing his 10-month sentence.

John Cota was released from custody on Monday night. The Nov. 7, 2007, accident caused a major spill in the bay, 53,500 gallons of bunker fuel leaked, covering 26 miles of shoreline.

Cota plead guilty to two misdemeanor charges of illegally discharging oil into the bay and killing thousands of birds after he ran the COSCO BUSAN into the bridge tower.

During his trial prosecutors say Cota made several errors that day, including deciding to embark in heavy fog. He was also accused of being impaired by his use of prescription pharmaceuticals while piloting the boat, which rendered him unable to use the onboard radar and electronic maps correctly.
ering 26 miles of shoreline.

Cota plead guilty to two misdemeanor charges of illegally discharging oil into the bay and killing thousands of birds after he ran the COSCO BUSAN into the bridge tower.

During his trial prosecutors say Cota made several errors that day, including deciding to embark in heavy fog. He was also accused of being impaired by his use of prescription pharmaceuticals while piloting the boat, which rendered him unable to use the onboard radar and electronic maps correctly.