judgment ended in tragedy for one Tulare Count teen who chose to drink and drive. According to an article appearing on The Sun-Gazette website, one person is dead and another teen critically injured after a DUI crash in Tulare County over the weekend.
In a report, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) said that the tragic accident happened on Sunday, December 12, 2021, at approximately 11:55 p.m. on State Route 137 west of Road 68.
A preliminary investigation determined that an unidentified 16-year-old male was driving a Toyota Camry westbound on State Route 137 near Road 68. With him were two other teens, a 17-year-old passenger in the front seat and an 18-year-old in the right rear backseat of the vehicle.
Because the 16-year-old was believed to be under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, the vehicle veered off the roadway and collided with several trees alongside the highway.
CHP officers from the Visalia area office, along with paramedics, responded to the crash scene. First responders found the front seat passenger had suffered critical injuries in the crash. Despite all life-saving efforts by emergency personnel, the teen died at the scene of the accident.
The second teen passenger in the vehicle’s rear suffered major injuries and was rushed to an area hospital for treatment. Authorities had not released the 18-year-old’s condition at the time of the report.
The 16-year-old driver suffered only minor injuries. He was arrested on charges of felony DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. CHP Officers transported the teen to the Tulare County Juvenile Detention Facility, where he is currently being held.
