Underage DUI Driver Caught on Highway 198

By 1986, most states, including California, had raised their legal age for purchase or possession of alcohol to 21. Despite this being the nationwide minimum drinking age in most circumstances, underage drinking does occur. Unfortunately, this also means that underage DUIs happen as well. The Visalia Times Delta reports on a suspected DUI incident involving an underage woman.

20-year-old Vanessa Murillo was driving her 2007 Hyundai Elantra south on North Fork Drive just north of Highway 198. She was travelling at approximately 60 m.p.h. and lost control of the vehicle as she came around a curve.

The right tires came off of the road and the car slid onto the dirt shoulder. In an attempt to get control of the vehicle, Murillo over corrected and the car began to spin. The Hyundai then crossed both lanes of North Fork, collided with a boulder, and flipped. The incident occurred just after 8 p.m. on Friday.

Inside the car with Murillo were Tanya Cisneros, 20; Casandra Diaz, 21; Joshua Delariva, 20; and an unidentified man who complained of back pain before fleeing the scene. The surviving occupants of the car were uncooperative with police regarding his identity.

Murillo and Cisneros, who were front seat passengers, wore seatbelts. None of the three occupants in the back were secured by safety belts.

Cisneros and Diaz suffered from broken bones. Murillo suffered from cuts to her head and limbs.

Unfortunately, Delariva died at the scene before he could be transported to a hospital.

Murillo was arrested on suspicion of DUI and vehicular manslaughter. Her bail was set at $100,000.

If you have been charged with DUI, you will need an experienced attorney to represent you in court. All of our attorneys are skilled in DUI defense. Call us today.

 

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