When a person gets their driver’s license in California, they fall under what is known as the implied consent law. This means that the driver consents to take a chemical test to determine if they are driving under the influence. Of course, the driver has the absolute right to refuse to submit to a test. However, there are additional penalties that can attach themselves should they be convicted of a DUI. These additional penalties fall under the refusal enhancement. These stiffer penalties include the possibility of spending more time in jail and having their license suspended for longer.
KTLA reports that a man has been charged with murder in a suspected DUI crash that occurred while he was driving the wrong way. The crash occurred last Sunday, February 16th on the 405 Freeway in Bel-Air.
42-year-old Marco Abrego is facing charges of murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and DUI causing injury. He is also facing special allegations of causing great bodily injury or death and refusing to submit to a chemical test. Abrego has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The charges stem from an incident where Abrego allegedly drove the wrong way for about three miles in a Tacoma pickup truck. He slammed head-on into a Jaguar S-Type, which then hit a third vehicle. 43-year-old Joey Allen, the driver of the Jaguar, was killed in the accident. The driver of the third vehicle was injured as well. Abrego was treated for his injuries at the scene and arrested. His bond was set at $2.1 million.
