There are generally places and experiences in which a person might question his or her safety. However, most people feel relatively safe while sleeping in their own beds — especially from becoming involved in car accidents. Unfortunately, some people in California might be questioning this after a recent accident resulted in the death of a woman who was reportedly asleep in her bed. The man suspected of causing her death now faces several criminal charges, including drunk driving.
The incident occurred just before 11 p.m. one night in late March. Police say that a 25-year-old male was driving a truck while under the influence of alcohol. He reportedly lost control of his pickup truck before his vehicle struck other parked vehicles, causing the truck to slam into a house.
A 71-year-old woman, who was sleeping inside the house, was discovered lying under the truck. Unfortunately, she died at the scene. The driver has since been charged with manslaughter in addition to felony drunk driving.
While the criminal justice system will determine what punishment — if any — is appropriate, the woman’s family is likely coming to terms with the news of a tragedy that may have been completely preventable. Many people in California have suffered from similar tragedies. Those who have felt that another’s negligence caused their loved ones death have sought financial relief in a civil court. While successful civil cases can not erase the pain caused by car accidents, successfully presented cases could result in awards of damages that would allow grieving family members to focus on their emotional recovery rather than stressing about their financial situations.
Source: CBS Los Angeles, “Suspected Drunk Driver Plowed Truck Into Lancaster Home, Killing Sleeping Woman“, March 30, 2015