California Injury Blog
A woman was fatally injured in a Los Angeles car accident, which officials say, was caused by a suspected DUI driver. According to a KTLA news report, the fatal crash occurred the evening of March 2 when the driver of a Chevy truck that was traveling at a high rate of speed on Woodley Avenue ran a red light and crashed into a Nissan sedan. LAPD officials said the Nissan was making a left turn onto westbound Parthenia Street from Woodley Avenue when the collision happened.
Crash Proves Fatal
The force of the crash forced both vehicles to travel in a southwest direction causing the Chevy pickup to overturn and the Nissan to bump onto the sidewalk and collide with a streetlight. Paramedics responded to the scene and transported the driver of the Nissan to a hospital where she died from her injuries. She has not yet been identified.
The truck’s driver was also taken to a hospital where he remains in police custody. He was identified as 26-year-old Manuel Sandoval of Canoga Park. Officials say they expect to book him on suspicion of murder once he is medically cleared. Officials are reminding motorists about the dangers of drinking and driving. LAPD officials said in a news release that drinking and driving combined with other traffic violations “kills innocent lives.”
We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the deceased victim. They will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Laws and Liability Issues
Based on this news report, it appears that the driver may have been under the influence of alcohol when he ran a red light and collided with the victim’s vehicle. Under California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a), it is illegal to operate a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. It is also against the law to drive with a BAC of 0.08 or higher. A driver whose act of driving under the influence results in the death of another will likely face vehicular manslaughter charges under California Penal Code section 191.5 (a).
In such cases, in addition to facing criminal charges, drunk drivers can also be held financially responsible for the injuries, damages, and losses. Families of victims would be well advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles DUI victims’ lawyer who will help them better understand their legal rights and options.
Source: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/man-arrested-after-woman-killed-in-suspected-dui-crash-in-north-hills/