Tag Archives: DUI

Alcohol May be Involved in Fatal Westminster Crash

A 32 year old Anaheim male was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI after he was involved in a fatal car crash early Tuesday.

The collision took place at McFadden Avenue and Brookhurst Street in Westminster. Police reported to the scene at around 1:11 a.m. A white Nissan Frontier truck and a red Honda Civic collided at the intersection. Police believe that the driver of the Nissan, Emmanuel Garibay, broadsided the Honda Civic. Investigators believe that Garibay was heading southbound on Brookhurst. The Honda Civic was heading westbound on McFadden Avenue. One of the vehicles ran a red light, and the vehicles collided.

There were no passengers in either vehicle. The driver of the Honda civic was fatally injured in the accident. He had to be cut out of the wreckage of the Honda. He was later identified as Joey Nungaray, 27, of Fountain Valley. Nungaray was taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange for treatment. He was later pronounced dead before 2 a.m.

Garibay also sustained injuries but minor ones. He was taken to UCI Medical Center to be treated. Garibay was then booked at the Orange County Jail on suspicion of drunken driving. The bail was set at $100,000. More details about Garibay’s arrests are not known.

Authorities are still working on investigating the crash and its cause. Investigators are still trying to determine which vehicle failed to stop at the red light. It is still not clear why one of the vehicles failed to stop.  Investigators do believe that alcohol was a factor in the collision.

Drunken driving is incredibly dangerous. In 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, reported that 9,878 died in drunken driving crashes. According to the NHTSA, one in three people will be involved in an alcohol-related crash. Drunk drivers have delayed response, impaired vision, and poor decision making.

Accidents involving drunken drivers are often serious or even fatal. Drunken drivers are reckless drivers. Injuries sustained from car accidents may be incredibly painful. If you are ever injured in a car accident involving a drunken driver, you should contact a Westminster car accident lawyer. A car accident lawyer will make sure you are fairly represented.

The Law Offices of Dara Khajavi is fully prepared to handle any case. We work with a specialized team of lawyers, investigators, and doctors. Contact us today for a free consultation. Don’t worry if money is an issue. There are absolutely no charges until your case is won.

 

 

Woman Arrested On Suspicion of Drunken Driving

A woman was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving early Tuesday morning.

The woman was driving a silver Volkswagen Jetta. At around 7 a.m., she veered while merging onto the 5 freeway from Blake Parkway. The woman hit a guardrail and flipped. The car landed on its driver side against a chain link fence. Police administered a field sobriety test. She failed the test and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. The woman also admitted to texting before the crash.

Firefighters and police reported to the scene. Firefighters had to open the car’s windshield to free her. The woman only suffered minor injuries. Luckily, no one else was hurt. There have been no reports of any other collisions caused by this first collision.  The identity of the woman has not been released.

Drunken driving is a serious issue. Drunken drivers have delayed response and impaired judgment. This woman would not have been in an accident if she had not been drinking and driving. Orange County has attempted to cut down on drinking and driving, but it is still an issue.

Last Friday night, Orange County had a DUI check point in San Juan Capistrano. There were two arrests from this check point. The check point was on Junipero Serra Road between I-4 and Camino Capistrano. It was funded through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety. The deputies arrested two individuals for suspicion of drunken driving. 18 unlicensed drivers were also cited. Nine vehicles were towed. The check point was active from 8 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday. 590 vehicles passed through the checkpoint.

Newport Beach and Costa Mesa will have checkpoints Labor Day weekend. Newport’s checkpoint will be on August 29. Costa Mesa’s checkpoint will be on Aug 30. The Federal grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety will be funding these checkpoints. The checkpoint locations have not been released. Costa Mesa’s check point is part of a nationwide period of enhanced enforcement. This nationwide period is from Aug 16 to Sept 2.

If you are an accident because of a drunken driver, you should contact an Orange County car accident lawyer. Accidents caused by drunken drivers are often serious and even fatal. A car accident lawyer can help you through the difficult recovery process.

Contact the Law Offices of Dara Khajavi if you have any questions. Don’t worry if money is an issue. There are absolutely no charges until your case is won.

Anaheim Hills Crash Causes Outage

A man suspected of drunken driving crashed into a utility pole causing a power outage.

The driver was driving a gray pick-up truck. He was driving, on Saturday, in the 5500 block of East La Palma Avenue east of Imperial Highway. At around 10 p.m., he collided into a utility pole. The collision caused a power outage that affected traffic lights in major intersections near the intersection. The driver was identified as 65 year old William Scaberry of Anaheim. He was taken to Western Medical Center- Santa Ana. The extent of his injuries is unknown. He was later arrested for driving under the influence.

After the crash, Police officers had to direct traffic. One driver ignored the police officers and almost ran over downed power lines. Intersections on both sides of the 91 Freeway were affected by the collision. The westbound traffic on La Palma Avenue at Imperial Highway was stopped.  There were 4 intersections without power. Intersections affected were La Palma Avenue and Imperial Highway, Imperial Highway and Santa Ana Canyon Road, Santa Ana Canyon Road and Via Cortez, and La Palma Avenue and Fairmont Boulevard.

Repairmen from Anaheim Electric Services worked throughout the night to restore power for affected customers. Around 700 customers were affected by the power outage. Utility crews were still working on the damaged utility poll Sunday morning.

Luckily, no one seriously injured because of this collision. There could have been many more collisions caused by this collision. Thankfully, officers and repairmen were able to handle the situation quickly, or there may have also been many more injuries.

If you are ever in a car accident, contact an Anaheim Hills car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Car accidents are often quite severe. You may sustain serious injuries. These injuries can mean extended hospital stays, loss of income due to time away from work, and physical therapy. All of these costs can add up. Insurance may help cover some of these costs, but a car accident lawyer can help you seek maximum damages for your losses.

Contact the Law Offices of Dara Khajavi if you have any questions. Our excellent legal team will assist you through all of the legal proceedings. Our team has handled countless cases. We are based in Orange County so we know all of the Anaheim Hill laws and streets. Call us today for a free consultation.

Two Arrested after Separate Laguna Beach Crashes

Two men were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after separate Laguna Beach Crashes.

The first crash took place at 10:03 p.m. on Monday on Park Avenue. The vehicle was a black Volkswagen Passat. Huntington Beach resident Ricardo Berge, 18, was driving the vehicle. He was driving downhill and lost control at a curve. The vehicle hit the curb and the car flipped. It rolled over and stopped. When police and firefighters arrived at the scene of the accident, Berge was outside the vehicle. Berge and an 18 year old passenger were transported to Mission hospital in Mission Viejo with injuries. Ricardo Berge was later arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence.

The second crash took place at 12:199 a.m. on Tuesday on South Coast Highway. A white scion was heading south on south Coast highway. It then veered into opposite lanes and crashed into two unoccupied parked cars. These cars were a red Nissan Cube and a white Ford Mustang. There was moderate damage done to these cars. The driver was a Laguna Niguel resident, John Cole Con Hoogenstyn, 25. He sustained a bruised hand. John Cole Von Hoogenstyn was later arrested on suspicion of felony DUI.

Thankfully more people were not injured in this crash. Accidents involving drunken drivers are usually quite severe. Drunken drivers have delayed reaction and impaired vision. Accidents involving drunken driver are usually more serious and often fatal.  Unfortunately, accidents involving drunken driver are quite common. Every 90 seconds, a person is injured in a drunken driving accident. One in three people will be involved in an alcohol-related accident. In 2011, 9,878 people died in drunken driving crashes. This is approximately one death every 53 minutes.

If you have been drinking, be responsible and do not drive. There are always taxi services. Before you drink, you should have a designated driver. You can also hire designated driver services. Designated driver services allow you to hire a driver to hire you for the night or longer. When alcohol is involved, it is important to be responsible and think ahead.

If you are ever in an accident involving a drunken driver, contact a Laguna Beach car accident lawyer. The Law Offices of Dara Khajavi is ready to help you with your case. Our skilled legal team will guide you through all the legal proceedings. Contact us today for a free consultation. There are absolutely no charges until your case is won

Suspected Drunken Driver Hits OCTA Bus in Anaheim

A suspected drunken driver collided into the back of a public bus late Friday night.

The suspected drunken driver injured herself and four others. The driver was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. She collided into an Orange County Transportation Authority bus at around 11:15 p.m. The collision took place on La Palma Avenue just east of Harbor Boulevard

The driver had one passenger. Both she and the passenger were treated for minor injuries from the accidents. Two passengers on the pass had to be taken to a hospital for treatment. An additional bus passenger was treated for minor injuries at the scene of the accident. Uninjured passengers were transferred to another bus. After the accident, the driver of the car was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.

Drunken driving is a serious issue. This weekend was a 4 day weekend for many people. At all these Fourth of July parties, there was sure to be a lot of alcohol. Unfortunately, this means that there is an increase of drunken drivers on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, Fourth of July is the worst day of the year for fatal crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Association found that 40 percent of all highway deaths between 2007 and 2011 were caused by drunken driving over the Fourth of July weekend.

A drunk driver endangers everyone on the road. When you are impaired, you have delayed reaction and impaired judgment. This increases your risk of accidents. An empty road can still be dangerous for a drunken driver. A drunken driver could easily lose control and collide into a pole or wall.

Drunken driving can also be quite expensive. If you are lucky enough to avoid an accident, you could be arrested for a DUI. A DUI arrest can increase insurance premium significantly. You may also have to pay fines, court costs, and DMV fees. A DUI can costs anywhere between $5,000 and $25,000. You may even have difficulty finding a job after a DUI arrest.

If you know you will be drinking, you should find a designated driver. A designated driver can be a friend or a family member. You can even just call a cab. Whatever you choose to do, you should make sure you have a safe ride home.

Contact an Anaheim car accident lawyer if you are involved in an accident. Do not hesitate to contact the Law Offices of Dara Khajavi.

 

Agency Recommends Lowering Legal BAC Level

The National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB, is recommending that all 50 states lower the blood alcohol content rate.

The NTSB is recommending that all 50 states lower the legal BAC rate to 0.05. Currently, the legal BAC rate is 0.08. The board believes that this change will reduce the nation’s drunken driving death rate. This change was implemented in Europe, and the number drunken driving deaths dropped significantly. Currently, the death rate, in the United States, is around 10,000 lives each year.

Multiple factors can affect a person’s blood alcohol content level.  A 140 pound female will typically hit the 0.08 blood alcohol level after having 3 drinks in one hour. This same person would reach the 0.05 level after having two to three drinks in one hour. A 180 pound male will hit 0.08 after four drinks in an hour. This person would reach 0.05 after two to three drinks in an hour.

Drivers can experience impaired driving at a 0.01 BAC level. Some drivers with a 0.01 BAC level may have attention problems and lane deviation. At a 0.02 BAC level, drivers may exhibit drowsiness. The difficulty with driving continues to worsen as the BAC level rises.   A police officer also has the right to arrest an individual even if his or her BAC level is within the legal limit. It is up to the officer’s discretion to decide if the driver is impaired.

The NTSB investigates transportation accidents. This board does not have the power to create new regulations. The NTSB can only recommend changes in legislation.  It does have significant influence over public safety matters. The board’s opinions could influence legislators and transportation agencies.  If the legislation does not pass now, the board’s influence may eventually push the legislation through.

In addition to changing the legal BAC level, the NTSB also recommended new state laws regarding arresting drunken drivers. The NTSB suggested that police have the right to confiscate licenses from drunken drivers. There are some states that already do this, but the board is recommending that officers in all states be allowed to do this. The NTSB is also pushing for laws that require all first-time offenders to have ignition locking devices. These devices prevent cars from starting until breath samples are analyzed. This will keep drunk drivers off the road.

If you are ever involved in a car accident because of a drunken driver, you should contact a Newport Beach car accident lawyer.

Off Duty Officer Killed in Crash

An off-duty Costa Mesa police detective was killed in a crash because driving drunk and texting.

The police detective was a 57 year old veteran officer. He was driving his 2000 Mazda and crashed in an underpass beneath the 55 freeway. He collided into a concrete pillar. The collision occurred near Newport Boulevard and Bristol Street on March 5th.

He was not wearing a seat belt, at the time of the crash. This probably contributed to his death. The officer also had a 0.14 blood-alcohol level before he died. He had been drinking at Mi Casa restaurant between 5 and 8 p.m. The officer then went to Skosh Monahan’s between 9 and 10 p.m. After he left the second restaurant, he collided in the underpass.

The Newport Beach Police Department has determined that the primary cause of the crash was that the officer was driving under the influence of alcohol. He was impaired, which made turning difficult and unsafe. The officer was also sending text messages while he was driving.  Texting while driving also contributed to the crash.

This unfortunate story happens much too often. Drunken driving causes many deaths and serious injuries each year. Every 15 minutes, someone dies from a drunken driving related crash. Crashes involving a drunken driver are usually quite serious and often fatal. Injuries often require extended hospital stays and extensive physical therapy. A serious accident can also mean time away from work.

Texting while driving is also another serious cause of car accidents. Distracted driving is a serious issue in the United States. Cell phone use while driving dramatically increases your chance of accidents. When you text while driving, your eyes are on your phone instead of the road. You are also thinking about what to text, and you have one hand on your phone. If a car tries to merge into your lane, you may not be able to respond in time.

There are many possible causes of car accidents. Some car accidents are simply accidents and completely avoidable. However, many car accidents are caused by impaired drivers and distracted drivers. Don’t drink and drive or drive distracted. Do not let your friends and family drive impaired or distracted. If you are not confident about your driving abilities, simply pull over. It is better to be safe than dead.

If you are ever in a car accident, contact a Costa Mesa car accident lawyer.

Gotcha Surfwear Co-founder Arrested

Retired professional surfer and Gotcha surfwear co-founder has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and cocaine possession after a traffic accident.

Michael Elliot Tomson of Laguna Beach was charged with two felony counts of DUI and possession fo a controlled substance. He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of being under the influence of drugs.  He was released after he posted $100,000 bail.

Authorities received a call around 9:17 a.m. Monday morning. The caller reported a traffic collision between a 2008 Mercedes E550 and a 2008 Nissan Rogue. The collision was at Glenneyre and Calliope streets in Laguna Beach.

The suspect was driving the Mercedes. He was heading south on Glenneyre. He rear ended the Nissan. A 65 year old woman was driving the Nissan. She was hospitalized for minor to moderate injuries.  Tomson was not injured. Glenneyre was closed for two hours, while investigators examined the scene.

Tomson has had issues with driving under the influence before. In October 2012, he was pulled over for speeding.  He was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in December 2011. Tomson was also arrested for resisting an officer in October 2011.

Thankfully, no one was seriously injured in this collision. Tomson was driving under the influence and could have seriously injured other people on the road. Drivers under the influence have delayed reaction and flawed judgment. Accidents involving impaired drivers often serious and even fatal. Every year thousands of people die because of impaired drivers.

If you see a reckless driver on the road, you should pull over when it is safe. Try to note the car’s model, license plate, and the location. It also helps to remember how the driver is driving. Is the driver weaving in and out of lanes? Is it driving on the other side of the road? This information is helpful to the authorities. Don’t hesitate to report a reckless driver. You could save a life and prevent serious injuries and damage.

If you are the victim of an impaired driver, immediately contact a Laguna Beach car accident lawyer. Injuries from car accidents are often serious. These injuries can require extended stays at hospitals and intensive physical therapy. You may not be able to even work. Insurance may be able to cover some of these costs, but a car accident lawyer can help you seek maximum damage

Fullerton Police Using DUI Grants

Fullerton Police is putting to use almost $200,000 in grants. These grants are being used for programs for drink driving suppression and sobriety checkpoints.

 

Since last fall, Fullerton Police has made many strides with this grant money. The department has implemented 35 saturation patrols. During a saturation patrol, officers patrol the downtown Fullerton area looking for potentially drunk drivers. This patrol has been able to arrest an average of one drunken driver per patrol.

 

These grants have also funded undercover court-sting operations. In these sting operations, police followed drivers whose licenses were suspended from the court house to their vehicles. Police found that some of the drivers still drove with a suspended license. The police department was able to cite 7 people and arrest one individuals. The grant has also helped fund 5 sobriety checkpoints.

 

Extra patrols and checkpoints can be incredibly expensive. Police must be paid for overtime. The police department would not have been able to afford or provide these extra protective services. Thanks to these grants, the Fullerton police have been able to protect drivers and pedestrians. DUI enforcement would be significant less without these grants.

 

These DUI enforcement measures are incredibly important. California has a huge issue with drunken driving. Orange County’s alcohol related collision rate is higher than the state’s average alcohol related collision rate. In 2011, 29 percent of Orange County’s fatalities and severe injuries in traffic collisions involved a drunken driver.

 

Fullerton is known for its bar and drunken driving problem. The downtown Fullerton area has multiple bars. It is a popular location for many people to bar hop. Since 2009, alcohol related collisions accounting for 50% of the fatal collisions in Fullerton.

 

Impaired driving is incredibly dangerous. Drunken drivers have impaired vision and slow-reaction time. These irresponsible drivers risk not only their lives but also the lives of other drivers. If you know you will be drinking, plan ahead and pick a designated driver. The designated driver should be chosen before any drinking begins. If any of your friends are intoxicated, do not let them drive.

 

Report any intoxicated drivers on the road. If you see an intoxicated driver, pull over. Do not try to follow the driver. You should take note of any information about the car, the license plate, and the cross streets. The police will need this information.

 

If you are ever involved in a car accident, you may want to contact a Fullerton car accident lawyer

 

 

. Contact the Law Offices of Dara Khajavi if you have any questions.