The Legal Herald reports on an 18-year-old accused of DUI in a crash that injured several people. The crash occurred in Visalia on June 15th.
18-year-old Mark Anthony Verdugo was driving a Lamborghini Huracan eastward along Walnut Avenue around 11:30 p.m. As he drove through the intersection at Court Street, he crashed into two other vehicles. A Toyota Camry that had been driving north on Court Street was first to be hit. The driver of the Camry was moderately injured. The passenger, who was identified only as a female, was critically injured. Also struck by the Lamborghini was a Lincoln MKZ that had been traveling south on Court Street. The driver of that vehicle suffered from minor injuries.
When police responded to the scene, they discovered a loaded .45 caliber pistol in the Lamborghini. Verdugo suffered from a back injury requiring hospitalization. Once he is released, he will be facing charges of DUI, unlawful possession of a firearm, DUI causing great bodily injury, as well as charges stemming from an unrelated warrant.
Anytime a person gets a DUI, it is usually a momentary lapse in judgment. When someone underage is charged with DUI, a conviction can have far-reaching consequences. An underage person can face some of the same penalties as an adult charged with DUI would face. These penalties can include jail time, suspension of license, fines and fees, as well as probation. Further, when applying for college or jobs, they may have to state that they have been convicted of DUI. This can affect their chances of being accepted to a university or getting a job. If an accident is involved and people are hurt, they may be required to pay compensation to the victims.
