Two Killed in Suspected DUI Crash

  • May 22 2014
  • Gilleon Law Firm, APC

san_diego_dui_fatalitiesTwo people were killed in a crash on Interstate 8 in which alcohol may have been a factor, according to the California Highway Patrol. The deadly crash occurred on westbound Interstate 8 near the Lake Jennings Park Road exit.

Mario Castandeo-Carranza was driving a Nissan Sentra at around 70 miles per hour when he drifted toward the center median divider. The driver attempted to correct and lost control of the vehicle. The car tore through a chain link fence and smashed into a concrete culvert. His two passengers, Carlos Kristopher Vargas, 20, and Monica Lupercio, 20, both died as a result of the crash.

The driver sustained major injuries but is expected to recover. Police believe he was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time and have charged him with felony DUI causing death and vehicular homicide. He has a prior DUI conviction from 2007.

Alcohol: A Deadly Crash Factor

Alcohol is a factor in many deadly crashes. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, a national organization dedicated to education about DUI, about half of all drivers killed in car accidents have alcohol in their systems. It is not unusual at all for a driver to hurt or kill someone else when driving drunk, as well.

There are more than 1.2 million drunk driving arrests throughout the United States each year. It is difficult to estimate how many drivers are driving drunk who do not get arrested, but MADD has statistics that indicate the number may be very high. One source claims that a drunk driver has driven dozens of times under the influence before he or she is caught the first time.

I Am The Victim of A DUI Accident

The problem with collecting damages in a DUI accident is that so many drunk drivers have no insurance coverage. Without it, these drivers may not be able to pay the total damages due to their victims as a result of the crash.

However, there are other ways of collecting compensation in a DUI crash, including your own uninsured motorist coverage. For more information or to find out how you may be able to collect damages to pay for your medical bills, pain and suffering and other costs associated with an accident, contact Daniel M. Gilleon in San Diego immediately. Daniel M. Gilleon has years of experience in helping victims collect payment for DUI crashes.


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