California police suspect that a drunk driver is responsible for a deadly wreck that also injured two others. All of the victims were minor children from the same family who were traveling with their mother at the time. Police arrested and charged the driver who caused the wrongful death with a felony count of DUI.
The mother's vehicle had run out of gas and stalled out on the shoulder of the road. Her three children -- who are between the ages of 1 and 11 years old -- were in the disabled vehicle with her when tragedy struck. At approximately 6:20 p.m., an SUV slammed into the rear of the disabled car, pressing it up against a nearby wall.
Two of the children, ages 1 and 11, were transported to an area hospital in an ambulance while a 3-year-old child had to be airlifted. One of the children was later declared dead at the hospital, and although it is unclear which of the siblings did not survive their injuries, the 3-year-old was reported as unresponsive at the scene of the wreck. The extent of the mother's injuries was not made available, and the suspected drunk driver was briefly treated at the hospital before being arrested.
Criminal charges against a drunk driving suspect can help victims achieve a sense of justice and prevent dangerous drivers from immediately heading back to the road. But for some California families who have been devastated by the effects of drunk driving, criminal charges are not necessarily enough. Wrongful death and personal injury claims are some of the most effective approaches for achieving compensation related to damages that stem from tragic accidents. In the case of wrongful death suits, family members usually seek legal recourse on behalf of their lost loved one's estate.
Source: NBC Bay Area, "Suspected Drunk Driver Arrested After Child Dies in Crash on I-680 in San Ramon", Rhea Mahbubani, Sept. 9, 2016