California Injury Blog
Aida Gonzalez, 53, was killed in a Garden Grove car accident, which officials say involved a suspected drunk driver, the night of January 15, 2012. According to a news article in The Orange County Register, the fatal DUI collision occurred in the eastbound lanes of the 22 Freeway, near Bolsa Chica Road, in Garden Grove. Authorities report, Charline Vilchis, 21, of Long Beach, was under the influence when she swerved to the left, while driving a Toyota Corolla, and struck a stopped Toyota Camry from behind. The Camry spun out of control and into the path of a Jeep Liberty. Gonzalez was fatally injured in the collision. Vilchis was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence resulting in corporal injury or death.
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Aida Gonzalez following this tragic Orange County car accident. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Orange County DUI Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), nine people were killed and 60 were injured in alcohol-related crashes in the city of Garden Grove. During that same year, Orange County DUI collisions caused 62 fatalities and injured 1,340 people.
California DUI Laws
Based on this news report, officials have arrested Vilchis on suspicion of driving under the influence. It is illegal under California law to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. A driver whose act of driving under the influence results in the death of another will likely face vehicular manslaughter charges.
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.”
Liability Issues
In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, the family of a deceased car accident victim can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, and loss of love and companionship. Victims’ families would be well advised to contact an experienced Garden Grove personal injury lawyer, who has a successful track record of holding drunk drivers financially responsible. For more information about the dangers of driving under the influence, please visit the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) web site at www.madd.org.