On Tuesday, May 7, 2013, a mother of
three was killed when she was struck by a wrong-way driver. The accident occurred
in Mission Viejo near Santa Margarita Parkway and Los Alisos Boulevard around
11:40 PM. The wrong-way driver was suspected of driving under the influence of
alcohol at the time of the accident.
According to witnesses, a driver of a
Ford F-250 pickup truck was heading south on northbound Santa Margarita
Parkway. The driver, then, collided head-on into a minivan. The mother driving
the minivan was a 36 year-old women from Trabuco Canyon. Unfortunately, the
mother was pronounced dead at the scene. The mother’s children are around the
ages of 7 to 14 years old.
The wrong-way driver was taken to a
nearby hospital and is listed as in critical condition. The driver is a 42
year-old male from Mission Viejo who has a history of driving under the
influence of alcohol. The driver is suspected of driving under the influence of
alcohol as investigators detected the odor of alcohol at the scene and the
driver appeared impaired.
Driving Under the Influence
Alcohol greatly impairs the brain’s functions
and abilities. Because alcohol is a depressant, it slows down the functions of
the central nervous system. That means many functions are delayed and the
person cannot act properly or normally. Alcohol affects a person’s
information-processing skills. Thus, drinking alcohol before driving can greatly
increase your risk of being involved in a dangerous accident.
Statistics and Preventative Measures
- In 2006, approximately 17,600 people died in traffic crashes involving alcohol
- In that same year, over 1.46 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
In order to prevent dangerous drunk
driving accidents, one should refrain from drinking and driving and not allow
friends to operate any vehicles while intoxicated.
Personal Injury Lawsuit
If you or someone you know was recently injured by a drunk driver, you should consult with a personal injury attorney regarding your
injuries. A personal injury attorney will work to earn you a substantial
settlement from the negligent driver for your pain and suffering. Contact us
today.
