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Man Charged With DUI Manslaughter in California Teen's Death

Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook

An 18-year-old about to do missionary work for a year before enrolling in college died after being hit by a driver who was charged with felony DUI manslaughter in relation to the crash. The teenager was returning home after working at a local pizza place.

The accident happened as the Los Osos teenager was heading south on South Bay Avenue. A man traveling northbound crossed over the centerline and hit the teenager's vehicle head on. According to a representative of the California Highway Patrol, the teen was driving below the speed limit while the other driver was driving above it. After hitting the teen's vehicle, the driver crashed into a parked pickup truck on the side of the roadway. Witnesses said one of the vehicles flipped over several times and ended up on its roof. Debris on the road was scattered at the site, and the South Bay was closed for several hours while the accident was cleared and an investigation proceeded.

The teenager died at the accident site. The 22-year-old driver was transported to the hospital and taken into custody. The pickup driver was uninjured. The driver who allegedly caused the accident, as well as the other two drivers, were wearing seat belts, according to authorities.

When a motorist drives drunk and causes a fatal accident, they may be criminally charged and convicted. Their negligence is open to civil liability despite criminal charges. In this case, the mother of the teenager killed as a result of the crash may experience financial problems in addition to emotional ones. For someone in a similar situation, an attorney may review police records, as well as the accounts of reconstructionist evaluation, to build a strong case against the driver who caused the accident. Punitive as well as compensatory damages may be sought.

Source: KEYT, "Los Osos Teen Killed in Head-On Crash", June 19, 2014

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