All states have made it illegal for a person under 21 years old to consume alcohol. As such, many of the states have strict zero-tolerance laws regarding underage drinking. California is no exception. For people under 21, registering even 0.01% on a blood-alcohol concentration test can result in a license being suspended. For those that register between 0.05% and 0.07%, they can face the same penalties as a legal adult with a 0.08% BAC. If they are involved in an accident, penalties can increase quickly. Though a DUI murder charge usually requires a previous DUI conviction, in cases with an underage driver, exceptions can be made if an accident kills another person.
The Northridge-Chatsworth Patch reports that the driver responsible for a crash that killed two people is facing DUI murder charges. 20-year-old Pablo Roman Trujillo Carrasco was booked on Monday on charges of murder and DUI.
The charges stem from an accident that occurred at about 1 a.m. on Sunday. Carrasco had been driving on Parthenia Street when he crashed into cars that were parked along the street.
19-year-old Cesar Perez and 16-year-old Louis Perez died at the scene of the crash. They were passengers in the vehicle that Carrasco was driving. They were brothers and had been attending a quinceanera prior to the crash.
Both brothers attended Canoga Park High School, which had grief counselors available to speak with students and staff affected by the tragedy.
