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California car accidents: Teenager killed by alleged drunk driver

by | Apr 4, 2016 | Car Accidents, Firm News

For some, the prospect of being stranded on the side of an interstate due to car problems is unnerving, and rightly so. Some car accidents in California are caused by drivers who strike disabled vehicles — even those parked on the shoulder. Unfortunately, a young women in such a situation recently died in an accident that police say was caused by a driver who was under the influence of alcohol.

The accident happened one evening in late March. According to reports, the 18-year-old and a 34-year-old man were standing near a disabled vehicle that was stopped on the shoulder of a California interstate. Police say that a 46-year-old male in an eastbound vehicle lost control, causing him to swerve onto the shoulder and strike the stopped car. This car continued back onto the roadway before striking the median and coming to a rest.

The force of the impact pushed the disabled vehicle into the two victims. They were both transported to the hospital. Although the young woman was eventually airlifted to a different facility, she died as a result of the injuries she suffered. The man who police say caused the accident has since been arrested and faces charges related to drunk driving. The accident resulted in the closure in the eastbound lanes of the interstate for several hours.

The criminal justice system will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to convict the man and, if so, an appropriate punishment. While a guilty verdict may provide the surviving victim and the family of the deceased young woman with some degree of closure, it will not help them with the financial struggle they may be facing as a result of medical bills and loss of wages, among other expenses. As a result, many victims of car accidents in California file a civil lawsuit. Such action, if successful, could result in a monetary award to help with expenses stemming from such an accident.

Source: dailyrepublic.com, “Young woman dies, Solano man in jail after I-80 crash in Fairfield“, March 28, 2016