Crash That Killed Three May Be Due To Marijuana

In California, marijuana’s relatively new status as legal recreationally will not protect someone who is accused of driving while stoned. While it may be legal to possess a certain amount of the drug, grow the plants, and consume the drug, but a person is not supposed to get behind the wheel while intoxicated by marijuana. Driving under the influence of marijuana is considered much the same as driving while intoxicated by alcohol. The penalties can include suspension of a person’s license, sometimes thousands of dollars in fines, and in some cases, jail time. NBC Los Angeles reports on a deadly crash believed to have been caused by someone driving under the influence of marijuana.

Police suspect that the driver responsible for a multi-vehicle crash that killed three people was driving under the influence of marijuana.

The accident happened late last Tuesday night on the 880 Freeway in Fremont, California. Just before the crash, several witnesses called 911 to report a driver who was speeding and driving recklessly along the East Bay Freeway.

Dang Nguyen Hai Tran, 21, of San Jose, was driving a 2002 Toyota northbound on the freeway when he changed lanes. He collided with a 2015 Cadillac Escalade. Both vehicles lost control and the Escalade overturned.

Four passengers in the Escalade were ejected from the vehicle. Three of those passengers, who have been identified as Noelle Johnson, 39; Christy Limas, 14; and Brooke Limas, 9, were all pronounced dead at the scene.

Five others, including a child who was reported to be in critical condition, were rushed to local hospitals.

Tran was booked into the Santa Rita County Jail. Bail was set at $195,000.

 

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