In California, a DUI involving drugs charge is treated in much the same way as a DUI involving alcohol. Many DUIs involve both drugs and alcohol. For the purposes of DUI charges, any drug that alters your perception or affects your ability to drive can lead to a DUI. This means that legal drugs like marijuana, prescription drugs, and over the counter medications can lead to DUI charges.
Normally, a DUI involving drugs is a misdemeanor. However, it can be charged as a felony if the driver has previous felony DUI convictions or if the DUI involved an accident with serious injuries or death.
The OC Register reports that two people have been killed in a suspected DUI crash in Anaheim.
The incident happened on La Palma Avenue in Anaheim at about 8:20 p.m.
At the intersection of La Palma Avenue and Olive Street, a Mazda CX9 minivan plowed into the rear of a sedan. One of the victims was ejected from the sedan. Another victim was inside the vehicle. Both were pronounced dead when authorities arrived.
A third passenger in the sedan was critically injured, but currently, there are no updates as to the passenger’s status.
The driver of the minivan is suspected of DUI involving both drugs and alcohol. His name was not released, and he will be arrested once he is cleared to leave the hospital. His passenger suffered from minor injuries.
Police also suspect that the driver was involved in an earlier hit-and-run crash at the intersection with Harbor Boulevard.