Generally, a DUI in California is a simple misdemeanor. If the DUI involves an accident resulting in the death of another person, the charges can become very serious. There are three possible charges an intoxicated driver may face when involved in a crash that claims a life. Vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated can be either a felony or a misdemeanor. Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is another charge. This is always a felony. The third charge is DUI murder, which is also always a felony.
KTLA reports on a suspected DUI accident that claimed the life of a woman when a car landed on top of her.
The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The woman was standing on the sidewalk in the 11000 blocks of Victory Boulevard. A BMW traveling at a high rate of speed was heading northbound on Vineland Avenue when he ran a red light and collided with another vehicle at the intersection. The BMW then veered off of the roadway and spun into a CVS parking lot. It then collided with a parked and unoccupied vehicle, smashing a CVS sign, and then bounced back onto the sidewalk, landing on top of the woman.
Witnesses tried to free the woman from the vehicle before the fire department arrived. She was transported to a nearby hospital where she was reported dead.
An investigation is currently underway to determine if the driver of the BMW was intoxicated at the time of the accident.
