Suspected DUI Drive Kills One, Injures Two Others

California has two versions of Vehicle Code 23151, otherwise known as “Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs Causing Injury.” VC 231519(a) covers when a person has some alcohol or drugs in their system, but not necessarily enough to be “over the limit.” VC23151(b) covers when a driver may or may not have been impaired but had a blood alcohol limit of .08% or more. This means that even if a person was not over the legal limit, they can be charged with driving under the influence causing injury. This offense can be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor.

The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports on a suspected DUI accident that left one person dead and two injured.

The crash happened at about 9:50 p.m. Sunday on the westbound side of the 10 Freeway west of Barranca Street.  According to the California Highway Patrol, a La Puente man, 89, was killed at the scene.  The victim was riding in a 1998 Ford Explorer being driven by another La Puente man, identified as 57-year-old Gerardo Alvarez.  The CHP believes that Alvarez was driving at a speed that was not safe for traffic conditions when he slammed into the back of a 2002 Nissan Altima.  The Ford overturned and the driver of the Nissan suffered from moderate injuries.

Alvarez was taken to the hospital with a head injury but was also placed under arrest. He will be taken into custody once medically cleared.

Police believe that alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.

 

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