Articles Posted in DUI Accidents

A Santa Ana man who had two previous DUI convictions has been charged with second-degree murder for allegedly plowing into a family of four in Irvine killing Jeongmi Choi, 44, and injuring her husband and their two children, 18 and 15. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the family was walking on a sidewalk near Turtle Rock Drive the night of May 16 when 37-year-old Kamal Akwette Attoh swerved off the road and hit them with his 2012 BMW sedan. Choi was killed. Her husband suffered a ruptured spleen and other serious internal injuries. Her 18-year-old son suffered a broken nose and other injuries while her 15-year-old daughter needed stitches. Continue reading →

A police officer suffered injuries after officials say a suspected drunk driver ran a red light in Costa Mesa and struck the officer’s patrol vehicle. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, two officers were traveling westbound on Del Mar Avenue at Newport Boulevard in a marked police car the night of July 3, 2017. That’s when a man driving a Chevy Suburban northbound on Newport Boulevard drove through a red light and broadsided the police car.

One of the officers suffered a non-life-threatening shoulder injury. The driver, 66-year-old Leslie Lorrimer of Mission Viejo, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of felony DUI. The investigation into this case is still ongoing. Our thoughts and prayers are with the police officer who was injured in this suspected DUI collision. We wish him the very best for a quick and full recovery.

Violation of Laws

Five people were injured in two separate car accidents in Winnetka, which officials say, was caused by a suspected drunk driver. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Daily News, the crashes were reported the night of March 19, 2017 at Hart Street and Oso Avenue and at Oso and Sherman Way. The suspected drunk driver first crashed into several vehicles at the intersection of Hart and Oso. The man then fled the scene and caused a second collision at Oso and Sherman.

Firefighters had to use the Jaws of Life to extricate two people from a vehicle at the second crash. Three patients had to be transported by advanced life-support ambulances due to the violent nature of the crashes. Another patient sustained serious injuries one had suffered non-life-threatening injuries. It is not clear if the driver was arrested or charged. The investigation is ongoing.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured victims of this crash. We wish them the very best for a quick and full recovery. Continue reading →

A Pasadena man has been accused of drunk driving in connection with a car accident in Los Angeles that killed a 4-month-old girl and injured a 10-year-old boy and a woman on the 110 Freeway in Elysian Park. According to a news report in the San Gabriel Valley News Tribune, 26-year-old Jared Silvestri was allegedly under the influence when the crash occurred on the northbound 110 Freeway just south of the 5 Freeway. California Highway Patrol officials said Silvestri was at the wheel of a 2001 Chevrolet when it slammed into the rear of a 2006 Chrysler that was slowing and pulling over to the right shoulder. Continue reading →

One person was killed in a fiery car crash in Orange, which officials say, was caused by a suspected drunk driver. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal car accident occurred the night of May 12, 2016 at the intersection of East Chapman Avenue and South Yorba Street. Police say 32-year-old Stephanie Marine DeRosas was driving west on Chapman when she rear-ended a vehicle near South Yorba Street. The impact of the collision caused the rear-ended car to go into the intersection where it sideswiped another vehicle and caught fire.

Horrific Collision

When officials arrived at the scene, the rear-ended vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. The driver, who was the sole occupant of that vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. The gender and the identity of that driver has not yet been determined. DeRosas was hospitalized with serious injuries, but is expected to be booked on suspicion of DUI. The female driver of the side-swiped vehicle was also injured, but she is expected survive. DeRosas was also driving on a license that was suspended on Oct. 27, 2014 for negligent operation, the Register reported. The investigation is ongoing.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family members and friends of this deceased car accident victim. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Continue reading →

Greg Gillaspy, 70, was killed in a Yorba Linda car crash, which officials say was caused by a suspected drunk driver. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, Gillaspy was crossing the street at the intersection of Fairmont Boulevard and Lorca Lane the night of April 9, 2016 when a truck hit him.

The driver, identified as 37-year-old Jody Guerrero, remained at the scene. He was found to have been driving under the influence and was booked on suspicion of homicide. Officials said he already had a prior DUI conviction. Gillaspy was transported to an area trauma center where he died from his injuries.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family members and friends of Greg Gillaspy for their tragic loss. Gillaspy was not just a U.S. Navy veteran, but also an active member of the community who pushed to add the words “In God We Trust” to the walls of the Yorba Linda City Council Chambers. He was also a leader of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1024. Continue reading →

Andrew Garcia, 26, was killed in an Anaheim DUI crash after a pickup truck struck him while he was skateboarding. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred around midnight on March 12, 2016. Police say Garcia was skateboarding northbound on Magnolia Avenue near Ball Road when a Nissan Titan, driven by 63-year-old Jose Frutos Gonzalez, struck him.

Gonzalez fled after hitting Garcia. Witnesses followed him to an apartment complex in the 900 block of South Dale Avenue. Garcia was transported to an area trauma center where he died the following day from his injuries. Gonzalez was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. The investigation is still ongoing.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family members and friends of Andrew Garcia for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Continue reading →

Injuries were reported in a Lake Forest car accident, which officials said, was caused by a suspected drunk driver. According to a report in The Orange County Register, the injury collision occurred on the I-5 northbound, north of Lake Forest Drive. California Highway Patrol officials said Todd Davey, 47, of Buena Park, was driving a Toyota 4Runner, and for unknown reasons, lost control and collided with four other vehicles.

The crash caused the 4Runner to overturn onto the right shoulder. A pregnant woman in her 30s was involved in the crash as were four others. But officials said none of them suffered serious or life-threatening injuries. Davey was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Officials suspect Davey was under influence of drugs and alcohol.

It is indeed fortunate that no one was critically injured in this collision. We wish everyone who was injured the very best for a speedy and full recovery. Continue reading →