Articles Posted in Drunken Vehicular Manslaughter

A 39-year-old Baldwin Park man was arrested for drunk driving after being involved in a fatal Los Angeles County car accident that resulted in two fatalities. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the fatal accident occurred on the 60 Freeway east of Atlantic Boulevard in Monterey Park. California Highway Patrol officials say a Ford pickup truck rear-ended a disabled Honda. A 34-year-old man and a 31-year-old passenger in the Honda were killed. The driver of the truck was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Under California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a): “It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle.” When a driver who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol causes a fatal crash, he or she can be charged with gross vehicular manslaughter as well. If it is determined that the driver was intoxicated or behaving reckless, he or she could face a second-degree murder charge. If the driver has had prior DUI convictions, then he or she could face a murder charge.
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An 18-year-old man was arrested following a fatal Orange County car accident, while officials are still determining whether or not alcohol or recklessness contributed to the accident. The Orange County Register reports that the fatal car accident occurred on Ortega Highway near Caspers Park in San Juan Capistrano. Officials say the man drove his pickup off the roadway and into a tree. A woman in her 40s who was riding in the pickup was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. The teenage driver was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter. An investigation is ongoing.

A driver who is determined to have been at fault for a fatal accident may face vehicular manslaughter charges. Evidence of reckless driving or intoxication can result in even more serious charges. California Penal Code 191.5 (b) states, “Vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought, in the driving of a vehicle … and the killing was … the proximate result of the commission of an unlawful act.”

Following a fatal car accident, an experienced DUI defense attorney should be brought on board immediately. Having quality legal representation on your side can make or break your case. The resulting penalties for vehicular manslaughter are severe, especially when alcohol is a factor in the crash. If convicted, a defendant could face lengthy prison time, hefty fines, and other life-changing penalties.

An 18-year-old man is facing felony charges in connection with a car accident in Orange County which resulted in the death of a 44-year-old man and his 17-year-old son. According to a news report in The Los Angeles Times, the fatal car accident occurred on Crescent Avenue in Buena Park. The 18-year-old driver faces two felony counts of vehicular manslaughter for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

It is illegal for drivers in the state of California to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 percent or higher. Drivers under the age of 21 face even harsher restrictions regarding alcohol. California Vehicle Code Section 23136 states: “It is unlawful for a person under the age of 21 years who has a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.01 percent or greater, as measured by a preliminary alcohol screening test or other chemical test, to drive a vehicle.”

Teenagers are often charged as adults in cases involving drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter. These allegations can have potentially serious ramifications for the future of the young defendant. It is important to aggressively defend yourself against these types of charges as they may result in extended jail time, license suspension, years of probation, and heavy fines.

According to The Canadian Press, the prosecution rested Wednesday, November 10, in the DUI vehicular manslaughter trial of Jim Leyritz, who is a former major league baseball player. Leyritz played catcher in his 11 season career, and played for the Yankees, Angels, Rangers, Red Sox, Padres, and Dodgers. He is most well-known for his home run in the 1996 World Series while playing for the Yankees. The 2000 season was his last.

Leyritz is accused of driving drunk, running a red light, and crashing into a Mitsubishi Montero driven by Fredia Ann Veitch, who was killed at the scene of the fatal Florida car crash after being thrown from her motor vehicle on December 28, 2007. His blood alcohol content level (BAC) was at 0.14 percent three hours after the accident, and could have been as high as 0.19 percent at the time of the crash, according to testimony given at trial. Florida law prohibits driving over 0.08 percent. Evidence shows that Veitch was also drunk and had a BAC of 0.18 when the accident occurred, and was not wearing a seatbelt.

At trial, a crash reconstruction expert said Leyritz was not speeding into the intersection before the accident. Based on the damages to both vehicles, as well as other factors, the crash expert estimated that Leyritz was going about 35 mph, which is the posted speed limit for the road. Airbags did not deploy in either motor vehicle and there wasn’t any indication that either driver slammed on their brakes to attempt to prevent the Florida car accident. It is unclear whether the vehicle’s lights that Leyritz was driving were on. There is also some question as to whether the light was yellow when Leyritz crossed the intersection.

A 20-year-old woman has been booked for felony drunk driving and manslaughter after a fatal Los Angeles car accident. According to ABC7, the fatal LA car crash took place on Western Avenue in South Los Angeles. Authorities believe that a 2003 Cadillac CTS veered from the northbound lanes into the southbound lanes of traffic where it collided with a 2008 Honda Civic and then crashed into a two-story apartment. Two passengers in the Cadillac died in the crash and the driver of the Honda was seriously injured.

Drivers facing Los Angeles DUI charges are looking at serious consequences, including up to six months in jail for first-time offenders and a $1,000 fine. Drivers who are convicted of causing a fatal California car collision while under the influence of alcohol face potentially life changing penalties, including up to10 years in a state prison. Drivers charged with California vehicular manslaughter while under the influence of alcohol could face 15 years to life if they have a prior DUI conviction on their record.

The penalties and fines for driving under the influence of alcohol have become so severe in California that it is crucial for anyone charged with a DUI to immediately contact an experienced Los Angeles drunk driving defense lawyer. A skilled criminal defense attorney will review all of the details surrounding the California car accident and the arrest to determine if any of the defendant’s rights were violated.