At around 12:45 a.m. on Aug. 30, police responded to an accident on Rosedale Highway near Verduga Lane in Bakersfield. They say a 29-year-old man driving a Ford Crown Victoria rear-ended a compact car, causing the car to go up in flames with three people trapped inside.

Good Samaritans were able to pull a woman from the compact car, but she was seriously injured in the accident. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries. The driver and other passenger in the compact car were both pronounced dead at the scene.

Police arrested the driver of the Crown Victoria and stated that he was driving under the influence of alcohol. They say that additional charges for vehicular manslaughter could also result from the incident. The man has a criminal history dating back to 2003, including a May arrest for being drunk in public.

In car accidents like this one, in which alcohol is involved, the driver who was under the influence could potentially be held liable for the accident. Any time a person decides to drive when distracted or impaired, they endanger the lives of all of the other drivers on the road around them.

The families of the victims could file a wrongful death claim against the driver responsible, which could result in compensation for funeral expenses and other damages. A completed police report stating who was at fault can be useful in claims resulting from car accidents, providing an objective view of the situation and all of the actions that led to the accident.

Source: Bakersfield Now , "2 killed in collision, 1 arrested for alleged DUI", Eric Galvan, September 02, 2014