Lompoc Man, 41, Arrested on Suspicion of DUI after Fatal Crash
SANTA MARIA, Calif. (Sept. 12, 2024) — Mathew Venable, 60, died in late August five days after a head-on crash involving a suspected DUI driver on Skyway Drive in Santa Maria.
A second person riding in the same vehicle was critically injured in the 1:15 a.m. crash on August 25th, 2024, according to Noozhawk.
Police arrested the other driver, Eduardo Chavez Hernandez, 41, of Lompoc, on suspicion of DUI following the victim’s death.
According to the Santa Maria Police Department, the suspect lost control of his vehicle at a curve in the roadway on Skyway Drive. The vehicle veered into westbound traffic and crashed head-on into the vehicle driven by Mathew Venable.
Paramedics from the Santa Maria Fire Department transported the victim and his passenger to a hospital where Mathew Venable died five days later. The passenger was treated for lacerations on his head and other moderate injuries.
Meanwhile, police arrested Eduardo Chavez Hernandez on felony DUI causing great bodily injury and booked him into Santa Barbara County Jail in lie of $100,000. He was later released on bond a few hours later.
The case remains under investigation by the Santa Maria Police Department Traffic Bureau.
Johnson Attorneys Group does not represent any of the parties mentioned above. Furthermore, Johnson Attorneys Group hopes this news information is timely and helpful. Additionally, if you would like to contribute any information, add a GoFundMe page, or have legal questions, please call 1-(855) 703-4186 as soon as possible. Our personal injury law firm is a proud, longtime supporter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
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