California has a specific law covering what happens when a driver is intoxicated and gets into an accident that injures other people. The specific charge is called driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs causing injury.
There are two provisions of the law. The first provision of the law refers to when a driver is under the influence, but the blood-alcohol level isn’t over the legal limit. The second provision applies to when a driver may not seem impaired, but the blood-alcohol level is over the legal limit. This means that even if the driver was under the 0.08% threshold for most drivers, they can still be charged with the crime.
Depending on the severity of the injuries and the driver’s record, the charge may be a felony or a misdemeanor. Serious injuries almost always result in a felony charge.
The Modesto Bee reports that a Turlock man was arrested in an accident that caused the death of his passenger.
The accident occurred shortly before 9:30 p.m. on Sunday night on Highway 99 in Modesto.
24-year-old Cariaun Williams was driving a 1997 Lexus northbound and was just south of the Ninth Street exit. He was allegedly driving at high speeds when he lost control of the vehicle and hit a guardrail that divided the northbound and southbound lanes. After hitting the guardrail, his vehicle spun out and overturned onto its right side.
When first responders arrived, they discovered Williams outside the vehicle. 25-year-old Kalaina Tolden was trapped inside. She was extricated and taken to a local hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.
Neither Tolden nor Williams was wearing a seatbelt. Williams suffered from only minor injuries.
Williams is facing charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI causing injury, and driving on a suspended license.
His bail was set at $125,000.
