In May, there was an accident on I-880 that resulted in three fatalities. The victims were a 39-year old woman and two children, aged 14 and 9. They were in a Cadillac Escalade along with five others, some of whom were also children. Those injured passengers were taken to the hospital following the accident.
This crash involved five vehicles, more than a typical traffic collision. Because of the accident, the CHP had to shut down several lanes and redirect traffic as they worked through the night to clean debris and gather evidence. Their conclusion is a tragic one. A twenty-one-year-old driving a white Toyota Camry was under the influence of marijuana. Other drivers reported the car had been speeding and driving erratically before the accident.
When the Camry collided with the Escalade, three people were ejected from the Cadillac. They were the accident’s only fatalities. It has been suggested that the victims who were thrown from the vehicle were not wearing their seatbelts.
The driver of the Camry, a young man, is thought to have been under the influence of marijuana. The CHP issued a statement reminding people that driving under the influence is not limited to alcohol and illegal drugs, but includes marijuana as well.
The driver faces several charges, including gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated as well as counts for DUI and causing bodily harm. CHP Officer Manuel Leal had this to say: “The Decisions people make, the decision this person made to drive under the influence changed these people’s lives forever.”
If you or a loved one is injured in an accident that involves a driver operating under the influence, we recommend for you to speak with an attorney right away to help guide you through what comes after. Like the officer said: Lives can be changed forever. Having an attorney may prevent a horrible situation from becoming worse.
If you have been involved in a serious car accident, contact Tanya Gomerman at 415-545-8608 for a FREE consultation.