California Injury Blog
Dadream Patrice Thomas, 28, was killed in a Los Angeles car accident, which police report, involved a drunk teen driver. According to a news report in The Press-Telegram, the fatal DUI collision occurred on the 110 Freeway near the 105 Freeway in South Los Angeles early morning on February 18, 2011. California Highway Patrol officials say Thomas was involved in a crash with her Dodge Intrepid. Shortly after that initial accident the Dodge was struck by a Honda travelling at about 65 mph and driven by an 18-year-old driver. Thomas died at the scene of the accident while a teen passenger in the Honda suffered moderate injuries. The female driver of the Honda was arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Dadream Patrice Thomas following this tragic DUI collision. My thoughts and prayers are also with the injured victim. I wish her the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
DUI Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 105 people were killed and 2,252 were injured in Los Angles DUI collisions. During the same year, there were 258 fatalities and 4,832 injuries reported involving alcohol-related crashes in Los Angeles County.
What Caused This Fatal Car Accident?
Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is a serious crime under California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a). A driver whose act of driving under the influence results in the death of another will likely face gross vehicular manslaughter charges. California Penal Code Section 191.5 (a) states: “Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought, in the driving of a vehicle, where the driving was in violation of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153 of the Vehicle Code, and the killing was either the proximate result of the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to a felony, and with gross negligence, or the proximate result of the commission of a lawful act that might produce death, in an unlawful manner, and with gross negligence.”
Liability Issues
The family of a victim killed in a Los Angeles DUI collision may pursue compensation for their losses by filing a wrongful death claim. In such cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, families of deceased car accident victims would be well-advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that the negligent parties are held accountable. For more information about the dangers of drunk driving, please visit the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) web site at madd.org.
Lost a family member in a Los Angeles County car accident? Want to know your rights? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation? Want justice? Want to ensure the same thing doesn’t happen to another family?
Call your best friends in the legal industry after a fatal Los Angeles DUI car accident. Call 800-259-6373. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.
Call a Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your rights by attorneys who have been representing families of deceased accident victims since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a compassionate and understanding law firm in a comfortable environment.