An 80-year-old man suffered fatal injuries in a Fullerton car accident, which officials said, involved a 25-year-old suspected drunk driver. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the police arrested the younger man on suspicion of driving under the influence. The incident occurred on the afternoon of Dec. 13.
Fatal DUI Crash
The elderly driver was in his 1964 Chevy Malibu SS heading north on Raymond Avenue and making a left turn on Orangefair Avenue. As he made a turn, a 2015 Ram 1500 pickup truck driving south on Raymond Avenue at what officials said was a “high rate of speed” slammed into the victim’s Malibu.
Officers arriving at the scene found the Chevy Malibu with significant damage to its passenger side and the Ram truck with serious front-end damage, lying upside down. Police believe the truck had rolled over multiple times. Paramedics pronounced the 80-year-old driver of the Chevy Malibu dead at the scene. The truck’s driver was transported to an area hospital with moderate injuries and later was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI resulting in great bodily injury or death.
We offer our deepest condolences to the family members and friends of the elderly driver who was killed in this suspected DUI crash. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
DUI Laws and Liability Issues
It is illegal under California law to operate with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers. In 2017, there were 10,874 people killed in these preventable crashes. On average, over the 10-year period from 2006 to 2016, more than 10,000 people died every year in drunk driving crashes. One person was killed in a DUI crash every 48 minutes in the United States in 2017. Also, statistics show men are more likely than women to be driving drunk in fatal crashes.
In addition to facing criminal charges and penalties, DUI drivers can also be held financially responsible for the injuries, damages and losses they cause. Families of deceased victims may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver and other potential parties. For example, a DUI driver’s employer can also be held liable especially if the driver was on the job at the time. An experienced DUI victims’ lawyer will be able to uphold victims’ and families’ rights and help them better understand their options.
Source: https://www.ocregister.com/2019/12/14/80-year-old-man-killed-in-crash-with-suspected-dui-driver-in-fullerton/