A few weeks ago, we blogged about a recent news story involving a 21-year-old man suspected of drunk driving after crashing into a family of five on Interstate 15 in San Diego, California. He now faces charges of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and five counts of DUI causing injury or death.

The man, just barely the legal drinking age, was allegedly drunk when he crashed his vehicle around 3:30 a.m. on I-15 near the Mira Mesa area of San Diego. The vehicle that was struck carried a family of five. Tragically, the driver and his mother were killed in the aftermath of the accident according to reports at NBC San Diego (5/6/2015).

The California Highway Patrol said the driver in question was driving in the wrong direction on I-15 when the accident occurred. Although the other driver, a father and husband, changed lanes to avoid hitting the wrong way driver, the driver in question maneuvered into the same direction, causing both vehicles to collide into one another head-on.

The man and his passenger were tragically killed and pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Four others were injured including the deceased man’s wife and son who both suffered broken necks, head injury and other catastrophic bodily injury.

The driver in question is said to have survived the accident and will face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

A WORD ABOUT LATE NIGHT DRIVING

If you haven’t yet read our blog about avoiding a wrong-way driving, catch up on it by clicking here.

This case reported here is particularly tragic because the deceased driver made all the right decisions to avoid the wrong way driver and yet the accident still occurred. Of course, with allegedly drunken drivers, there’s no telling what move they will make next.

While it is still important to try to react as quickly as possible in a wrong-way driver situation, it’s also sage to try to avoid being on the road when drunk drivers are most likely to be driving. Late night and early morning driving – such as in this case – are risky times of travel. According to a recent study by the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety, nearly 1 in 4 drivers are drunk on our roadways after 11 p.m. It may be safe to say that in California, those numbers may even be higher considering our younger demographic in Southern California and our perpetually pleasant weather that won’t stop anyone from going out.

The truth is, we are never entirely safe on the road – no matter what. We will always have an inherent risk of being involved in an accident the moment we turn the key and light the ignition. However, it’s prudent and likewise good advice to try to limit your driving during the most dangerous hours of the day. Drive from dawn to dusk, if possible. For lengthy travels, consider rest stops and hotels until you reach your destination. Late night and early morning travel is the most dangerous time to be on the road. As personal injury lawyers, we urge San Diego to stay safe as we enter the busy (and often dangerous) summer season when people are especially prone to drive under the influence in the late night and early morning hours.

WHEN DUI CAR ACCIDENTS OCCUR

If you have been involved in a drunken driving accident and you suspect it was the other person’s fault, you may be entitled to financial compensation. As San Diego’s car accident specialists, we will handle your case aggressively and yet give you the attention and dedication you deserve. It’s no wonder we are San Diego’s most trusted law firm group. Give us a call: 1-858-551-2090 and speak to a car accident lawyer today, 24/7.