A Napa man is in jail and his passenger is in the hospital after what police are calling a crash into multiple objects. The series of crashes happened on Freeway Drive, between Laurel Street and Old Sonoma Road.
Napa Police say they received numerous reports around 9 o’clock Sunday night that a vehicle being driven by Juan Pablo Santiago, 62, of Napa, had crashed into at least two other vehicles, as well as several signs and fences on Freeway Drive. When officers caught up with Santiago at Old Sonoma Road, they found a passenger in the vehicle had sustained major injuries, and that man was taken to Queen of the Valley Medical Center.
Santiago showed signs of intoxication, according to the report in The Napa Valley Register, and officers arrested him and booked him into Napa County jail.
We hope the man injured in this shocking incident makes a full and speedy recovery from his serious injuries.
Driving under the influence of alcohol is a crime resulting in felony charges when crash victims sustain personal injuries. The California Highway Patrol Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System indicates that in 2009, there were 1,144 fatal collisions involving drunk drivers.
California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a) states, “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.”
For some reason, it remains almost tacitly acceptable to drive after drinking in our society as long as you don’t get caught. The price that is paid is too high. Since some people don’t seem to be getting the message, California should do more to prevent DUI related deaths, including stiffer penalties for all offenders, alcohol treatment programs, ignition locks, and programs like mandatory designated driver.
All victims and families of DUI accidents should consult a reputable Sacramento personal injury attorney, who will conduct a thorough investigation of the collision and hold the offending driver accountable in the civil justice system for their actions. A qualified California personal injury attorney can advise you regarding a claim for damages, including recovery of medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. It is always a important to consult with a California Personal Injury Attorney as soon as possible after an incident to learn your rights and rights of your children. It is important to get legal advice quickly so that all rights are protected.
Drunk driving is one of the main causes of catastrophic traffic collisions in the United States. 41,059 people were killed in traffic crashes in the United States in 2010, 12,998 of the fatalities were alcohol related. During that same year, 254,000 people suffered serious physical injuries in alcohol related collisions.
As attorneys representing the victims of drunk drivers, at the Demas Law Group understand the importance of safe roads to our community. That’s why we aggressively litigate drunk driving cases on behalf of injury victims, and why we place such an importance on drunk driving prevention.
The Demas Law Group is a proud sponsor of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), an organization of victims and non-victims that makes a difference in the fight against drunk driving. The mission of MADD is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. MADD is available to help you deal with the legal, medical, and financial issues that often follow a drunk-driving crash. You’ll find that MADD offers a broad range of support-from information on victim rights and the legal system to online chats and special resources to help you cope with grief, injury and financial losses. MADD understands the grief, anger, confusion and frustration you may be feeling and wants to help. MADD’s services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. MADD helps survivors to survive.
