California Injury Blog
An 18-year-old has been accused of reckless driving and DUI after a fatal five-car crash in northwest Las Vegas.
According to a KTNV news report, the driver, since identified as Jerry Madera, was traveling west on Washington Avenue at a high rate of speed on the afternoon of July 19 when the accident occurred.
Madera’s 2007 Toyota RAV4 failed to stop at the red light at the intersection with Torrey Pines Drive, investigators said. This caused a chain-reaction crash resulting in one fatality.
Deadly DUI Crash in Las Vegas
As Madera allegedly ran the red light, the driver of a 2016 Mazda CX-5 was turning left from Torrey Pines Drive onto Washington Avenue on a green light.
The front of the Toyota hit the left side of the Mazda. It also collided with a 2008 Smart Fortwo, which was stopped at a red light. This triggered a chain reaction collision involving two other vehicles. Both Madera and the driver of the Mazda, Georgina Madrigal Olivarez, 33, were taken to a trauma center. Olivarez died from her injuries. One other driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Madera has been charged with reckless driving and driving under the influence.
We offer our deepest condolences to the family of Georgina Madrigal Olivarez for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. We also wish the injured victim the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Liability Issues
Based on this news report, it appears that Madera was not only under the influence at the time of the crash, but also ran a red light at the intersection, triggering the chain-reaction crash. In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is apparent, families of deceased accident victims may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault parties seeking compensation for damages such as medical expenses (incurred by the decedent), funeral costs, pain and suffering (endured by the deceased before he or she died), and loss of support, companionship, and consortium. In some cases, other parties may also be held liable.
In such cases, families of deceased victims would be well advised to contact an experienced Las Vegas DUI victims’ lawyer who will stay abreast of the official investigation and help ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.
Source: https://www.ktnv.com/traffic/18-year-old-accused-of-reckless-driving-dui-after-fatal-6-car-crash-in-northwest-las-vegas