In California, DUI murder is a second-degree murder charge that can result in a sentence of 15 years to life if convicted. Usually, to be charged with a DUI murder, a driver must have been intoxicated and responsible for an accident that kills someone. Next the driver must have been warned about the potential to kill someone from a previous DUI incident either by a judge, a probation officer, or as a part of DUI school. While these are the typical requirements, someone may be charged with DUI murder without meeting them, depending on the circumstances.
The Long Beach Post reports that an allegedly intoxicated driver involved in a wreck that claimed the life of another person has a previous DUI.
38-year-old David Garrison has been charged with second-degree murder for a high-speed collision that claimed the life of 64-year-old Dennis Nguyen.
Garrison was arrested on Monday, nearly a week following the fatal collision.
At about 6:20 a.m. on March 23rd along Anaheim Street, Garrison was driving at a high speed when he crashed into Nguyen’s Kia Spectra. Nguyen was headed northbound along the Pacific Coast Highway.
Nguyen died at the scene and Garrison’s arrest was postponed due to the injuries that he suffered in the crash.
At the time of the crash, Garrison was under a Watson advisement. This means that he had previously been warned by a judge that if he drove while intoxicated again and killed someone, he could be charged with murder.
Garrison is facing numerous charges, including murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence causing injury within 10 years of another DUI offense, driving with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08% causing injury within 10 years of another DUI offense, and driving under the influence of a drug causing injury.
