While one of the rarest of DUI charges, California has laws that directly address when a driver can be charged with second-degree murder for a DUI crash. One of the primary requirements is that the driver who is suspected of being intoxicated must be in an accident that killed another person. The person must have also had a prior DUI conviction within the last ten years. Usually, if these conditions are not met, the prosecutor will instead charge the driver with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. There are cases where a prosecutor has charged a person with DUI murder without a prior conviction. The circumstances of the crash are always looked at closely to determine if the facts support a second-degree murder charge.
KTLA reports that a celebrity tattoo artist has been arrested and charged with murder in a Los Angeles crash that killed a 25-year-old YouTube celebrity.
The accident happened at about 9:40 p.m. on Sunday on Huston Street in Los Angeles.
According to police, celebrity tattoo artist Daniel Silva was speeding east on Huston Street in his McLaren sports car. He lost control of the vehicle, causing him to veer off of the roadway. He first crashed into a stop sign and then a tree near the intersection with Carpenter Avenue.
According to witnesses, Silva attempted to exit the vehicle and flee the scene but was stopped by good Samaritans who stopped to render aid.
Paramedics soon arrived on the scene. Both Silva and the passenger were rushed to a local hospital, where the passenger succumbed to his injuries.
While authorities have not released the name of the passenger, several media outlets and social media posts indicate that it was 25-year-old YouTuber Corey La Barrie.
Silva is facing charges of DUI murder as well as other charges related to driving under the influence