Officers of the California Highway Patrol are trying to trace the steps of a driver in the hours leading up to a fiery crash. The 35-year-old driver, who admitted to having been consuming alcohol before taking to the road, will face a felony DUI charge and more when he is booked upon his release from the hospital. He suffered serious internal injuries in a wrong-way crash on a recent Monday evening.

While monitoring Caltrans roadworks at about 11:30 p.m., CHP officers saw a northbound sedan enter the southbound traffic lanes on Highway 99. After traveling several miles, they say the car smashed head-on into another vehicle, causing that vehicle to roll over. The 30-year-old driver of that car was rushed to a hospital with severe internal injuries.

The car continued in the wrong direction and struck a second vehicle after crossing two traffic lanes. A 33-year-old driver whose minor injuries were treated at the accident scene drove that car. This second collision caused the northbound car to roll over before it burst into flames on the shoulder of the road. Although rescue workers managed to extricate the driver, they failed to save the life of his passenger — a 31-year-old California man.

The driver is accused of drunk driving until the prosecution can prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Source: mercedsunstar.com, “One dead, two injured in a fiery drunken driving crash in Merced County“, Rob Parsons, June 27, 2017

In such circumstances, an experienced criminal defense attorney is needed for all parties to seek a fair, just, and equitable resolution.

Shortly after midnight on a rainy Monday earlier this month, a man from San Diego lost his life when his car crashed into an SUV that had previously rolled over. The SUV driver is now facing a felony DUI charge.

The crash resulted in delays, as traffic had to be diverted into the carpool lanes.

According to authorities, the accident occurred in rainy conditions on Interstate 15. A crash report indicates that a 19-year-old driver lost control of her SUV and slammed into the dividing barriers between the carpool lanes and southbound I-15. The impact caused the vehicle to roll onto its roof. The driver suffered serious injuries, and paramedics transported her to a hospital in La Jolla.

The California Highway Patrol report says another sedan, driven by a 42-year-old man, could not avoid the wreck and smashed into the SUV. This driver did not survive the crash, and his death was declared at the accident scene. The driver of the SUV was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. The charges against her also include vehicular manslaughter while under the influence.

Source: Rancho Bernardo, CA Patch, “Man Killed In I-15 Wreck Identified“, May 9, 2017

Any California driver who faces such serious allegations will likely seek the assistance of an experienced criminal defense attorney. Such a professional can examine the charges, along with the available evidence, before devising a strategy to defend the felony DUI charge. If a conviction cannot be avoided, the lawyer will likely endeavor to achieve an outcome that will limit the severe consequences that are typically associated with DUI-related convictions.