ITN Article 1.23.2018 – LA DUI
Wearing a seatbelt can mean the difference between life and death, even in suspected DUI crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), of the 35,092 people killed in 2015, 48% were unrestrained. Buckling up can reduce a front-seat passenger’s chances of death by 50% and of serious injury also by 50%. In the case of being ejected, 80% of ejections are deadly and most occur with unrestrained drivers and passengers. Signal SCV reports on a deadly crash where alcohol may have been a factor and the driver killed was not wearing a safety belt.
At approximately 10:50 p.m. last Tuesday, 31-year-old Matthew Thibodeaux was behind the wheel of a white Honda Civic. While traveling southbound on Golden Valley Road, he made a left turn against the red arrow. He pulled into the path of a Toyota Sienna.
Thibodeaux succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the accident. He was not wearing a seatbelt and police believe that speed and alcohol may have been factors in the accident.
The driver of the Toyota Sienna and a three-year-old passenger were taken via helicopter to a hospital with moderate to serious injuries.
A passenger in the Honda was taken via ambulance to a hospital suffering from moderate injuries in the collision.
Both the northbound and the southbound lanes of Golden Valley Road were closed for approximately three and a half hours as crews worked to clear and investigate the accident.
Have you been charged with DUI? Let one of our attorneys represent you in court. All of our attorneys are experienced in defending DUI charges. Call today.
