Los Angeles Elderly Pedestrian Killed in Suspected DUI Crash

A recent tragic crash in North Hollywood caused the death of a pedestrian in her late 70s. Police suspect that the driver who caused the crash may have been driving under the influence of alcohol. Continue reading for details on the accident, and contact a seasoned southern California personal injury lawyer for help if you’ve been injured in a Los Angeles-area car crash.

Elderly pedestrian killed in 3-car collision

At around 3:05 p.m. on a recent Tuesday, the driver of a BMW was speeding along through North Hollywood when he ran a red light at the intersection of Victory Boulevard and Vineland Avenue. The BMW smashed into a Honda, causing the BMW to rotate backwards and onto the sidewalk where a woman in her late 70s was standing. The BMW hit the elderly pedestrian and landed on top of her. A third vehicle became involved in the wreck after the initial collision.

DUI Investigation

Witnesses nearby attempted to pull the elderly woman out from under the BMW and reported that she was having trouble breathing. She was later pronounced dead at the scene following the accident. Two other people involved in the crash were taken to a nearby hospital, although their conditions were not publicly available at the time of this writing. The police are investigating the accident for possible DUI, believing that the man driving the BMW may have been under the influence when he sped through the intersection and caused the crash. If the investigation determines that he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident, he could face manslaughter charges as well as significant civil liabilities.

Drunk driving rates down since 1980s but trending upwards in the last few years

According to reports from the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility, drunk driving rates have dropped significantly in the last 35 years. Drunk driving fatalities decreased 48% from 1982 to 2017. Nonetheless, drunk driving remains a pervasive and deadly problem on U.S. roadways. In 2017, 10,874 people died in traffic crashes involving a driver with a BAC of 0.08 or greater. 1,120 of those deaths happened in California, leaving California second only to Texas in sheer numbers of drunk-driving related deaths. While the nationwide total has decreased since the 13,041 drunk driving deaths in 2007, the numbers have been gradually increasing since hitting an all-time low in 2011. Drunk drivers still pose a serious threat to anyone on California roadways and should be held accountable in civil court for any damage, injury, or death they cause as a result of their reckless behavior.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a Southern California crash with a drunk driver, contact the knowledgeable and dedicated Los Angeles personal injury lawyers at McReynolds Vardanyan LLP for a free consultation at 818-855-2115.

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