The California car accident lawyers at BISNAR | CHASE have represented numerous victims who have been seriously injured by drunk drivers. It's especially frightening when the drunk driver happens to be a school bus driver. This actually happened in Ojai, California where Kim Fullenwider, 53, a school bus driver, was arrested the morning of September 30, 2009 after she hit a pickup truck while taking 31 students to school in the Ojai Unified School District. Fullenwider was driving west on Baldwin Avenue when she made a U-turn in front of an eastbound pickup truck driven by 60-year-old Dimitros Poulos. No one was seriously injured in the resulting crash.
Bus Accident Caused by Drunk Driver
Fullenwider was arrested after she took a breath test and was booked for driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher. California law prohibits commercial drivers, including bus drivers, from driving with blood alcohol levels of 0.04 percent or greater. Officers determined that Fullenwider had been drinking the night before.
It's indeed fortunate that no children were hurt as a result of this Ventura car accident. I'm also glad that Poulos, the driver of the pickup truck, was not injured as a result of this DUI accident.
California Drunk Driving Laws
Driving under the influence is a serious crime in California. According to California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a): "It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle." The same code section also states that it is illegal for any person with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or more to drive a vehicle, which was apparently the vehicle code Fullenwider was booked under.
Had any of the students suffered serious personal injury in this incident, the school district would have been looking at some serious liability issues. Had anyone been injured -- whether it was the students or the pickup truck driver -- the school district could have been held liable for the resulting injuries and damages. It is appalling that a school bus driver, who is responsible for the lives of young children, would show up to work drunk. This incident emphasizes the importance of background testing and frequent drug and alcohol testing for school bus drivers. Had such systems been in place, this driver would not have been behind the wheel of that school bus.
The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.
SLS Consulting