A 6-year-old boy succumbed to the catastrophic injuries he received in a May 18 car crash. The boy had spent the last 12 days of his life at Children’s Hospital Oakland after the deadly car crash that occurred in Berkeley. The single-car accident also killed his mother at the scene and injured the driver, the 24-year-old boyfriend of the boy’s mother. The report does not mention if any of the occupants were wearing seatbelts.
The one-car accident happened in central Berkeley at the California Street and Allston Way roundabout. The driver who caused the wrongful death of the mother and her son crashed his Cadillac into a tree at about 1:15 a.m. Police estimate he was driving at approximately 64 miles per hour in the residential neighborhood. He had a blood alcohol content of 0.219, more than double the legal limit.
Alameda County officials have already charged the driver with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and drunken driving causing injury and enhancements, because the boy suffered paralysis and fell into a coma. The charges are expected to be amended now that the boy has died.
The boy’s mother was scheduled to graduate from college this year with a degree in social welfare.
This horrifying accident cut short two lives full of potential and there is absolutely no putting a price tag on that. However, the victims’ family certainly has a right to seek damages for the untimely deaths of this woman and her child. The fact that the driver was drunk makes it even more tragic because it could have easily been prevented.
Source: sfgate.com, “Boy, 6, dies of injuries from Berkeley crash,” Henry K. Lee, May 30, 2012