A Torrey Pines High School student has been charged in the car accident that caused the wrongful death of 17-year-old Alex Capozza on October 4.
The student who caused the drunk-driving accident that led to Capozza’s wrongful death had a blood-alcohol level of 0.1 percent one hour after the Rancho Santa Fe car crash. In Juvenile Court, the student plead not-guilty to one count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated and another two counts of drunken driving causing injury.
Our Rancho Santa Fe car accident lawyers (as well as organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Students Against Drunk Driving) strongly urge against drunk driving specifically because we all know drunk driving can lead to serious injuries like whiplash or spinal cord injuries. There are resources that can help you prevent DUI accidents.
17-year-old Alex Capozza was killed in a DUI car accident on October 4, 2009 by another teenager who was driving after drinking at a party. (SOURCE: KFMB-8 San Diego)
In the worst possible outcomes, the wrongful death of another human being becomes very possible. Teenage drivers especially are vulnerable to the effects of alcohol because it affects their bodies worse due to their smaller sizes and their possible inexperience in dealing with alcohol consumption. Drunk-driving is dangerous enough on its own for adults that are experienced drivers and drinkers.
In an investigation of the automobile accident that killed Capozza, California Highway Patrol (CHP) investigators said a group of teenagers were drinking at a party when the student who caused the crash got into his car and drove him and his friends home. While on route, the teenager lost control of the car on La Granada near Rambla de las Flores in Rancho Santa Fe.
Superior Court Judge George Clarke ordered the teenager to stay at Juvenile Hall while the case is being dealt with even though his attorney says the boy should be allowed to go home and be monitored via house arrest.
The San Diego District Attorney’s Office won’t file charges in adult court. This means the student responsible for the car accident will be tried in the juvenile system. If convicted, the teena could face a variety of sentences from a length of time to completing rehab programs or a combination of both.
Our car accident lawyers want to help organizations, law enforcement officials and citizens everywhere get the message out that drunk driving is not a good idea no matter how old you are. In fact, the younger you are, the more dangerous drinking and driving can be.
Please contact us for a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney — we speak both English and Spanish — at (800) 655-6585. Click here and you may also submit your case for a Free Review. No fee if no recovery.
About Michael PinesMichael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.
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