Holiday Weekend Marked by Tragedy on California Roads, Freeways, Highways
CALIFORNIA — A drunk driver struck and killed a 14-year-old Rialto girl who was crossing the street in Newport Beach on the Memorial Day weekend.
Over in Simi Valley, another DUI motorist rear-ended a Toyota Corolla stopped in traffic on the Interstate 5 and killed a 34-year-old Newhall man. The driver initially refused a blood test at the hospital, but police obtained a warrant and he was arrested.
These were just a few of the scenarios that played out during the busy Memorial Day weekend in California. The victims were among at least 42 people who died in holiday collisions, according to CHP records.
Eight of the deaths over the weekend on roads governed by the CHP were vehicle occupants who were not wearing seatbelts, but there were many others who were also injured.
The Memorial Day weekend is a time to mourn and honor our U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. However, now the families of these victims and other victims of drunken drivers will forever remember the holiday as the day they lost their loved one in a preventable tragedy.
Indeed, it was a busy holiday weekend for CHP officers as they arrested one DUI driver every four minutes for a total of 1,106 arrests throughout California. The maximum enforcement period began Friday night at 6 p.m. and ended at 11:59 p.m. on Monday. There were another 250 arrests on other charges over the 78-hour enforcement period.
Furthermore, CHP officers gave out 32,000 traffic citations including 19,000 for excessive speed, 800 for drivers exceeding 100 miles per hour, 1,850 for seatbelt violations and more than 2,000 distracted driving citations, officials said.
This is also just the beginning of the summer travel season between Memorial Day and Labor Day that is dubbed the “100 Deadliest Days” for teen drivers and passengers, the CHP said.
Police advise all motorists to wear seatbelts to cut down on preventable injuries and fatalities.
If you plan to drink this summer somewhere outside of your own home, it’s advisable to find a safe way home with a sober driver, public transportation or a taxi/rideshare service.
If you were injured or have lost a loved one in a traffic accident, Johnson Attorneys Group can help. Attorney James Johnson can answer your legal questions, as well as help you determine if you have a claim against a negligent driver. If you would like an experienced personal injury attorney to fight for you, please call 1-(855) 703-4186 to request a free case review.
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