DUI collisions

Florence Wyatt, 81, was killed in a Riverside car accident after she was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street. According to a news report in The Desert Sun, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred on Sunrise Way at Sunny Dunes in Palm Springs, the night of January 14, 2012. Officials say Wyatt was crossing the road at the intersection when a Kia Soul hit her. Wyatt was transported to an area hospital where she died. The driver stopped at the scene of the crash and spoke with the authorities. It is unclear if the motorist will be cited for the fatal crash.

My deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Florence Wyatt following this tragic pedestrian accident. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

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Two people, including the suspected drunk driver, were injured in a Laguna Beach car accident, which occurred early morning on January 6, 2012. According to a news report in the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot, the injury crash occurred in the 1500 block of Glenneyre Street. Police say 18-year-old Cameron Tyler Bigelow was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving after crashing his vehicle into a home. Bigelow's passenger suffered a broken right leg, sprained neck and back, and severe trauma to his right eyeball. Bigelow had a laceration on the back of his head. Both were transported to an area hospital. Damages to the home were estimated at about $3,000.

It is indeed fortunate that none of the residents were injured in this crash. I wish the injured passenger the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

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Miguel Melchor, 21, was killed in a Riverside car accident which officials say, involved a drunk driver. According to a news article in The Press-Enterprise, the fatal DUI crash occurred at the intersection of Rancho California Road and Meadows Parkway in Temecula, the night of December 24 2011. Officials report the driver of a white Toyota Tacoma pickup was under the influence of alcohol when he drove through a red light and collided with a Toyota Tundra pickup. Melchor was pronounced dead at a nearby medical center and three others were hospitalized with injuries.

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Two police officers were injured in a Los Angeles car accident, which officials say, involved a suspected drunk driver. According to a news report in The Daily Breeze, the DUI collision occurred on Vermont Avenue in Gardena, the night of December 14, 2011. The police officers were sitting in a patrol car that had its emergency lights flashing when a minivan rear-ended them. The two officers sustained non-life threatening injuries. A third officer who was standing near the car was able to avoid injury by leaping out of the way. Authorities quickly apprehended the driver, Jovan Lamar Pryor, 33, after he attempted to flee the scene of the crash.

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A truck driver was injured in a Costa Mesa car accident, which officials say involved a man who was driving under the influence, the morning of November 16, 2011. According to a news article in the Daily Pilot, the truck accident occurred in the southbound lanes of Newport Boulevard at Del Mar Avenue. A Toyota 4Runner SUV driven by 29-year-old Michael Conzelman of Santa Ana hit the Coca-Cola delivery truck. The truck driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Police report Conzelman was under the influence of an unknown substance, was hallucinating, and was confrontational with officers. He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

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Jorge Cisneros, 18, was killed in an Orange County car accident, which officials say, involved a suspected underage drunk driver. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal collision occurred early morning on November 6, 2011 on Santiago Canyon Road near Irvine Lake. California Highway Patrol officials say Jesus Manzo Torres, 18, was driving a 1996 Subaru Legacy at a high rate of speed when he lost control and crashed into a tree. The impact of the collision was apparently so great that the Subaru sheared into two.

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Halloween is one of the most common nights of the year for children to be involved in serious pedestrian versus car accidents. It is important that parents play an active role in supervising their children and in teaching them safe habits while they are out in the neighborhoods trick-or-treating. Children under 12 should not be left alone or allowed to cross the street unsupervised. Sidewalks should be used at all times. Children should look for cars while crossing a driveway. Children should also be more "visible" as they trick-or-treat. If, for example, their costumes are dark, they should be supplied with reflective tape, glow sticks, flashlights or other bright accessories to make them more visible to motorists.

There are steps drivers can take to help avoid being involved in a Halloween car accident as well. Extra caution should be taken in and around residential neighborhoods. Drivers should be on the lookout for children who may dart into traffic. If dropping off a child, drivers should pull over at a safe location with the hazard lights on. It is also important for drivers to put away their cell phone and to stay attentive.

Halloween Accident Statistics

According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in the year 2009 there were 73 fatal traffic accidents between 6 p.m. on October 31, 2009 and 5:59 a.m. on November 1, 2009. At least 35 of those fatal Halloween car accidents involved a driver who was operating with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or greater. That means that nearly 50 percent of all fatal Halloween traffic accidents were DUI collisions.

Potential Causes of Halloween Accidents

Anytime a child is injured in a Halloween car accident, it is crucial that investigators seek out the answers to a number of questions. Did the child dart into the roadway? Was the victim crossing at a crosswalk or intersection? Why was the driver unable to avoid the collision? Was the motorist distracted, speeding, intoxicated or fatigued? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway which may have caused or contributed to the incident?

Liability Issues

We wish you a safe and happy Halloween. However, if you or someone you love is injured by a negligent driver or as the result of a dangerous roadway condition, please remember that you do have legal rights. An experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer can help you better understand your legal rights and options in such cases.

Five people were injured in a Huntington Beach car accident, which officials say, was caused by a suspected drunk driver. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the injury collision occurred near the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Newman Avenue early morning on October 11, 2011. Officials say the driver of a Toyota Camry, identified as 22-year-old Forrest Leland Kelly, was northbound on Beach when he broadsided a southbound Dodge Durango driven by 28-year-old Thomas William Barrett.

The Dodge that had three passengers was making a U-turn at the intersection when the crash occurred. The Dodge overturned and all four occupants were transported to a local hospital with injuries. Kelly was also injured, but was later arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. Anyone with information about this crash is asked to contact Huntington Beach police officials at 714-536-5666.

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Ioane Lui Nuumau II, 28, and Ryan Faiga Tauilili, 24 were killed in a Los Angeles car accident after the pickup truck they were travelling in crashed into a cement wall. According to a City News Service report, the fatal car crash occurred on Wilshire Boulevard at Park View Street, the early morning of October 8, 2011. Officials say David Young Lee, 27, lost control of the white GMC pickup and struck a cement wall. Nuumau and Tauilili were killed in the crash, while Lee suffered critical injuries and a fourth occupant, a 23-year-old man, suffered minor injuries. Lee has been booked on suspicion of murder because the authorities believe he was driving under the influence of alcohol.

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Six children were injured, two critically, in a Lancaster car accident, which officials say, involved a suspected drunk driver. According to an NBC news report, the injury collision occurred the morning of September 25, 2011, when a 2002 Toyota Sequoia driven by 31-year-old Stanesha Nicole Allen, drifted onto the dirt shoulder near 65th Street East. The Toyota SUV rolled over and some of the children were ejected. Two of the critically injured children were airlifted to a hospital while four others sustained minor to moderate injuries. The children ranged in age from 10 months to 11 years old. Allen was arrested on suspicion of DUI. The children's relation to Allen has not been established. An investigation is ongoing.

My heart goes out to the young children who were seriously injured in this SUV rollover accident. I pray for their speedy and complete recovery.

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