Man killed in suspected DUI collision

 Posted on April 13,2015 in Car Accidents

On April 7, a San Jose man was killed in a car accident that may have been caused by a drunk driver. According to authorities, the man was driving in the northbound lanes of Highway 101 in a Ford Taurus when a 2011 Nissan pickup rear-ended him. The pickup then reportedly left the scene of the crime by taking the Great America Parkway exit. The collision left the Taurus stalled on the highway.

Following the initial accident, the driver of a 2008 Ford pickup came across the stalled vehicle; however, he was unable to avoid striking the Taurus. The impact of the collision caused the Taurus to travel across multiple lanes of the freeway before striking a wall. The vehicle then caught fire. The vehicle was reportedly fully engulfed in flames when the rescue authorities arrived at the scene, killing the 37-year-old driver.

The vehicle that reportedly caused the accident was recovered at a nearby IHOP by local authorities. It has sustained major damage to its front end and tires. Once the local authorities contacted the State Police, the vehicle was ultimately linked to the hit-and-run accident. The driver was taken into police custody where he was charged with manslaughter and DUI.

A person who becomes involved in a serious accident, it is possible that they could face life-threatening injuries or even die. If the person does not survive their injuries, their family may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim against the driver, especially if there is evidence that the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol when the crash occurred. In general, the family may seek compensation for economical and emotional damages.

Source: San Jose Mercury News, "San Jose: Man arrested on DUI, manslaughter after hit-and-run leads to fiery fatal crash," Robert Salonga, April 7, 2015