DUI Accidents

Published on: February 21, 2014

Bicyclist Killed in Huntington Beach DUI Hit-and-Run Collision

By Brian Chase

A suspected DUI driver was arrested after a hit-and-run crash in Huntington Beach that killed a 37-year-old male bicyclist. According to a KTLA News report, the incident occurred the night of February 19, 2014 near the intersection of Edwards Avenue and Ellis Avenue. Officials say a 2012 Toyota Camry and the bicyclist were both headed south when the bicyclist was struck by the sedan.

The bicyclist was riding in the bike lane when the car struck him. He was left in the roadway and pronounced dead at the scene. A witness told police that the vehicle fled the scene. The car’s front tire was found in the street. Officials tracked down the hit-and-run vehicle and arrested the driver, identified as 29-year-old Antonio Magdaleno Jr. of Oxnard. He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and felony hit-and-run causing death.
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Published on: June 25, 2013

Two Killed in San Bernardino County DUI Crash

By Brian Chase

Two people, identified as Ismael Ramires Mejia, 26, and Lauriano Mejia Ramirez, 19, were killed in a DUI collision in San Bernardino County after the vehicle in which they were traveling was struck by s suspected drunk driver. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the fatal car crash occurred the night of June 20, 2013 at the intersection of Cajon Boulevard and Fifth Street in Muscoy.
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Published on: February 11, 2013

Two Men Injured in Fullerton DUI Crash

By Brian Chase

Two men were hit and injured near Fullerton by a suspected drunk driver early morning on February 9, 2013. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, Rosenne Garnica, 24, was driving east on Santa Fe Avenue near Heroes Bar and Grill when she hit two men standing outside a car talking to people inside it. Police say both men were thrown by the impact and lost consciousness. They were transported to an area hospital for treatment of facial, leg and head injuries, but are expected to survive. Police estimate Garnica was traveling at about 20 mph at the time of the collision. She was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI.

DUI Statistics and Laws

There were three fatalities and 57 injuries involving DUI crashes in Fullerton, according to California Highway Patrol’s 2010 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). During the same year, 45 people died and 1,317 were injured due to alcohol-related collision in Orange County as a whole.

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Published on: September 27, 2012

Elderly Woman Killed in Ventura DUI Collision

By Brian Chase

Margarita McIntosh, 75, was killed in a Ventura pedestrian accident, which officials say involved a school bus driver who was under the influence of drugs. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the fatal collision occurred at the intersection of Woodland Street and Brookshire Avenue, the afternoon of September 26, 2012. Officials say the school bus carrying 11 children was heading north on Brookshire when it made a left turn on Woodland striking the elderly pedestrian who was walking in a crosswalk.

McIntosh was transported in critical condition to an area hospital where she died. The school bus driver, 54-year-old Joanne Madaule, was under the influence of unspecified drugs at the time, California Highway Patrol officials said. She was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI and for being under the influence of a controlled substance. The investigation is ongoing.
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Published on: August 10, 2012

DUI Collision in Monterey Park Proves Fatal for Two

By Brian Chase

Jorge A. Perez, 34, and his passenger, 31-year-old Beatriz Castillo, were killed in a Los Angeles County car accident, which officials say, was caused by a suspected drunk driver. According to a news report in The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the fatal collision occurred when 39-year-old Salvador Tamayo, who was westbound on the 60 Freeway just east of Atlantic Boulevard the night of August 9, 2012, crashed his 2003 Ford F-250 pickup truck into a disabled car on the 60 Freeway. Perez and Castillo, who were in the 2008 Honda Civic, died from their injuries. Officials say Tamayo “failed to react in time” and struck the Honda. Tamayo was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Perez and Castillo for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
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Published on: August 1, 2012

Two Passengers Killed in Alhambra DUI Collision

By Brian Chase

Manolo Magat, 23, and Joseph Almario, 21, were killed in a Los Angeles County traffic accident, which officials say, involved a suspected drunk driver. According to a news report in The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the fatal crash occurred early morning on July 31, 2012 at the 710 Freeway and 10 Freeway interchange. California Highway Patrol officials say that the driver of the Toyota RAV4, 22-year-old Christian Meng, was speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol. Meng lost control of the SUV on a curve and crashed through the guard wall of the HOV lane. The vehicle plunged 60 feet off the overpass and landed on a transition road. Magat and Almario died while another passenger, 22-year-old Jason Lieu, was injured. Meng has been charged with felony DUI.

My thoughts and prayers are with the family members and friends of Manolo Magat and Joseph Almario for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. I offer my deepest condolences to them.
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Published on: July 30, 2012

Bicyclist Killed in Sunset Beach Accident

By Brian Chase

Kenneth Prevatte , 52, was killed in a Huntington Beach car accident after a drunk driver struck his bicycle. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal DUI collision occurred at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and 8th Street in Sunset Beach the afternoon of July 28, 2012. Officials say Prevatte was struck in the northbound lanes of the Pacific Coast Highway. He was pronounced dead at the scene of crash. The driver, Becki James, 58, of Huntington Beach, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family members and friends of Kenneth Prevatte who are mourning this terrible loss. I offer my deepest condolences to them.
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Published on: July 23, 2012

Two Construction Workers Killed in Los Angeles Freeway Crash

By Brian Chase

Ramon Lopez, 56, of Chino Hills and Ricardo Zamora, 58, of Winchester, were fatally injured in a Torrance car accident that involved two suspected drunk drivers. According to a CBS news article, the freeway crash occurred early morning on July 22, 2012 on the 405 Freeway near Artesia Boulevard in Torrance. California Highway Patrol officials say Zamora, Lopez and another worker were doing asphalt work in the northbound freeway’s far right lane when a Lexus SUV struck them. The Lexus crashed into the men after it was rear-ended by a Ford Explorer SUV.

Lopez and Zamora died at the scene. A third worker was transported to a local hospital with injuries described as “minor to moderate.” The driver of the Explorer, 23-year-old Yocio Gomez, was arrested on DUI charges as was the driver of the Lexus, 43-year-old Stephen Caserta. Officials say the construction zone on the freeway was well-lit and was marked by cones.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Ramon Lopez and Ricardo Zamora for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. I also wish the worker who was injured in this DUI collision the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
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Published on: July 9, 2012

Pedestrian Killed in Riverside County DUI Crash

By Brian Chase

Lourdes Jauregui, 39, of Cathedral City, was killed in a pedestrian collision, which officials say involved a suspected drunk driver. According to a CBS news report, the fatal DUI collision occurred near the intersection of Converse Road and Date Palm Drive in Cathedral City, early morning on July 7, 2012. Police say the vehicle that struck Jauregui was driven by James Coley, 49, of Newport Beach. Coley showed signs of intoxication and was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence. The investigation is ongoing.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Lourdes Jauregui for their terrible loss. Please keep this grieving family in your thoughts and prayers.
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Published on: June 27, 2012

Woman Killed in Los Angeles DUI Collision

By Brian Chase

A 23-year-old woman was killed and her brother was injured in a Los Angeles car accident involving a suspected wrong-way drunk driver whose blood alcohol level, officials say, was more than three times the legal limit. According to news reports, the fatal DUI collision occurred at Parthenia Street and Corbin Avenue in Northridge, the night of June 25, 2012. Officials say a 50-year-old woman, who was driving her vehicle eastbound in a westbound lane on Parthenia, plowed into a Honda carrying the victims. The victim of this crash was fatally injured and her brother suffered unknown injuries. The female driver of the other vehicle had a blood alcohol level of .22. She is facing DUI and vehicular manslaughter charges.

My heartfelt condolences go out to the family members and friends of the woman killed in this collision. My thoughts and prayers are also with her injured brother. I wish him the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.
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