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Fresno DUI Car Crash Kills Three

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Three occupants of a Honda Civic–Francisco Magana, 20, Virginia Garcia, 21, and Vivian Garcia, 14–were killed in a Fresno car accident that officials believe was caused by a suspected drunk driver going in the wrong road direction.

According to a news report in the Fresno Bee, 32-year-old Willie Rivera Jr. was driving a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck the wrong way and collided head-on with the Honda at the intersection of Jensen and Armstrong avenues the night of June 24, 2009. The Silverado apparently sideswiped a Ford pickup and then hit the Civic. A Daewoo sedan was also caught up in the fatal car crash.

The driver of the Civic, 21-year-old Sergio Barrera Jr., suffered major injuries. Shinder Randhawa, 51, the driver of the Ford and his passenger, Gagandip Randhawa, 25, and the driver of the Daewoo, Maria Tostado, 26, suffered minor injuries. The suspected drunk driver, Willie Rivera, survived the car accident and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of the three victims who were killed in this fatal DUI car crash. I offer my deepest condolences to them. I also wish the driver of the Civic, Barrera, who suffered major injuries, the very best for a quick and complete recovery. Please keep him in your prayers.

I sincerely hope Rivera is held civilly and criminally responsible for causing this fatal car accident killing three people. In California, operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal.

California Vehicle Code section 23152 (a) states: “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.”

California Penal Code section 191.5 (a) states: “Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought, in the driving of a vehicle, where the driving was in violation of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153 of the Vehicle Code, and the killing was either the proximate result of the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to a felony, and with gross negligence, or the proximate result of the commission of a lawful act that might produce death, in an unlawful manner, and with gross negligence.”

The families of the deceased victims would be well-advised to consult experienced California personal injury attorneys who have had success with wrongful death claims. Such claims compensate families of deceased victims in cases where negligence or wrongdoing was involved. Injured victims may also be able to receive compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages and other related damages.

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9 responses to “Fresno DUI Car Crash Kills Three”

  1. Anonymous says:

    he didnt kill three, he killed 4. the 21 year old was pregnant.

  2. francisco hernandez says:

    hi my name is francisco and i was ther in fact i saw eveything i did not know he killed three all i saw was two the one girl that was pregnant and the youn man the other girl was still alive i was takling to her she sounded to be fime but please e-mail me want to know how the the ther girl pass away

  3. unonamous says:

    FRANCISCO MANGANA WAS MY FRIEND AND ITS SO SAD THAT THIS HAPPEND I NEVER WISH DEATH UPON NOBODY BUT IM GLAD THIS MANS GOIN TO PAY FOR TAKEN MY FRIENDS LIFE THE FUNERAL WAS CROWDED WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY IT WAS HEART BREAKIN TO HEAR ALL THE CRYING AND YELLING R.I.P KIKO WE LOVE AND MISS YOU EVERYDAY THAT GOES BY IS ANOTHER DAY CLOSER TO SEEING YOU AGAIN

  4. Anonymous says:

    TO FRANCISCO HERNANDEZ IF YOU CAN PLEASE POST AN EMAIL ADRESS WHERE WE CAN REACH YOU …IM THE COUSIN OF BOTH THE GIRLS THAT PASSED(THE 21YEAR OLD), AND WE WILL LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE INCIDENT.THANK YOU

  5. jose magana says:

    francisco waz my older brother i didnt like wat i heard on that day and wat went on that day my first connection with my brother the best one a brother brother moment

  6. b says:

    francisco [kiko] was my boyfriend .. my everything when he left this world a part of me was taken with him i dnt know what rivera was thinking to drive under the influence specially if hes older he should of known better i wish i could be in front of him to tell him how hurt i felt when they told me i wasnt going to see the love of my life again for them to tell me there will be no anniversaries no kisses no huggs but memories and pictures broken hearts and tears.. all i kept asking god was why him? why me? but i cant blaim god for this theres only one man to blaim and that is rivera.. i hope you stay in there for the rest of your life

  7. Betty says:

    Gina, Vivian everyday we hurt, cry, and wish you were here. We miss your hugs, smile and kisses. We love and miss you soo… much! To anyone reading this please don’t drink and drive or allow your love ones to do it either it will not only distroy innocent lives but it’ll destroy yours too. Love your tia Betty. Rest in Peace!

  8. Garcia says:

    I miss my Gina and Bebe so much, so extreme, its sometimes unbearable.. My life has been full of emotional torture. They were not only my cousins, but my sisters! Me and gina mine as well have been conjoined twins! We never thought we’d be seperated. I have an empty heart, full of sadness, and everyday i fight myself from going crazy! I dont think theres a reason for their absence here on earth, but only the consequence of peoples choices! So for those reading this blog, before u decide to operate a vehicle under the influence, think about that one person u cannot imagine losing! DUI drivers do not kill all their victims!

  9. Anonymous says:

    When i heard that my cousin died i was devastated i mean i didnt believe . i thought that they were insane. i really didnt want to believe. inside i felt my stomach hurting my heart practically broke. well ill miss you francisco(kiko).<3

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