The Modesto Bee reports on a woman facing DUI charges in an accident that seriously injured three people.
23-year-old Charysteena Urbina is facing charges following a September 18th early morning head-on collision.
According to the California Highway Patrol, Urbina was traveling northbound on South Carpenter Road approaching Hatch Road at about 4:50 a.m. She then veered into oncoming traffic, hitting a 1994 Chevy Silverado pickup head-on.
The Silverado went off the west edge of the road and Urbina’s vehicle, a 1999 Saturn, came to rest on Carpenter Road.
The driver of the pickup truck, whose name was not released, was critically injured in the collision.
Urbina also suffered from serious injuries and taken to the hospital. Police placed her under arrest, but were unable to take her into custody because her injuries required hospitalization.
23-year-old Marian Lujan and 20-year-old Iliana Garcia Urbina, who were both passengers in Urbina’s vehicle, were also seriously injured.
According to the Modesto Fire Department, it took 45 minutes to extricate both drivers from their mangled vehicles.
When a DUI accident involves injuries to others, the DUI penalties can become more severe. DUI causing injury can be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the circumstances surrounding the incident. A misdemeanor DUI causing injury can have penalties including up to 1 year in county jail, up to $2000 in fines, suspension of driver’s license for 1 to 3 years, between 3 and 30 months in DUI school, and 3-5 years probation. Of course, a felony DUI causing injury carries heavier penalties. A felony charge of DUI causing injury can increase the prison sentence and move it to state prison.
