Two pedestrians, a man and a woman, were killed in an Anaheim car accident, near the Disneyland Resort, which officials say, involved an underage drunk driver. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal DUI collision occurred at a crosswalk on South Harbor Boulevard, the early morning of October 1, 2011. The driver of a Chevrolet Astro van hit the two pedestrians as they crossed the road in a crosswalk. A male teenager, whose age was given as under 18, told police he was driving the van. Both victims were fatally injured in the crash. Alcohol has been described as a factor in this collision.
My heart goes out to the family and friends of the man and woman killed in this Orange County pedestrian accident. My thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.
Orange County DUI Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 10 people were killed and 176 were injured in alcohol-related crashes in Anaheim. During that same year, there were 62 fatalities and 1,340 injuries reported involving Orange County DUI collisions.
California DUI Laws
Based on this news report, the young driver was not only under the influence at the time of the crash, but he also struck and killed two pedestrians who were walking in a crosswalk. Motorists are required to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians walking in marked or unmarked crosswalks under California Vehicle Code Section 21950.
Also, California Vehicle Code Section 23136 states that “it is unlawful for a person under the age of 21 years who has a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.01 percent or greater, as measured by a preliminary alcohol screening test or other chemical test, to drive a vehicle.” Drivers who cause a fatal collision while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs could also face vehicular manslaughter charges.
Liability Issues
In such cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, the family of a deceased car accident victim can file wrongful death claim seeking compensation to cover medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income and benefits, loss of love and companionship, and other related damages. Families would be well-advised to contact an experienced Anaheim personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. For more information about the dangers of driving under the influence, please visit the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) web site at www.madd.org.
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