Drunk Driving

Lompoc Driver Charged with DUI and Manslaughter in Head on Vehicle Crash from a Harris Grade Road Collision in Santa Barbara, California

October 26, 2020 | by Robert Walch

On Thursday, October 22, 2020, DUI and manslaughter charges were filed as a result of the August 22, 2020, crash involving vehicles operated by Issac Valentino De Luna and decedent, Ben Romayor.

Reportedly, at about 6:30 a.m., on August 22, 2020, a 2017 BMW car allegedly driven by Issac Valentino De Luna, age 20, collided head on with a 1995 Ford vehicle, driven by Ben Romayor, age 68, on Harris Grade Road, south of Burton Mesa Boulevard, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Kelly Valdez. This was an alcohol involved vehicle crash that resulted in the wrongful death of vehicle operator, Ben Romayor.

The other driver, Issac Valentino De Luna, from Lompoc, was charged with DUI and manslaughter charges, that is driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury or death to another, and driving while having a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or more, causing injury or death to another, according to Santa Barbara County Chief Deputy District Attorney Mag Nicola.

2020 New Year’s DUIs Result in 500 Arrests and 3 Deaths

January 7, 2020 | by Gary Walch

2020 New Year’s DUIs Result in 500 Arrests and 3 Deaths

New Year’s Eve is always a time for celebrations, late nights, and often drinking. Though the celebrating can be fun, when it leads to intoxication and drunk driving, it can be deadly. Sadly, this is what happened this New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day as the new year and decade 2020 arrived.

According to ABC 7 News, California Highway patrol “made 491 DUI arrests during the agency’s 2020 New Year’s Day maximum enforcement period.” This period began at 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and continued until 11:59 p.m. on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2020. To put that number into perspective the California Highway patrol tweeted “That is the equivalent of removing an impaired driver from the road nearly every four minutes.”

Study Suggests Lowering Blood Alcohol Level to .05—California Bill Supports the Drop

August 14, 2019 | by Robert Walch

Drunk driving is a continual problem on California roads. In order to combat this deadly danger, a new state bill has been proposed which would lower the legal blood-alcohol level for drivers in California to .05%. ABC 7 News reports that California law makers are considering the bill, AB 1713, to reduce the amount of alcohol you can legally have in your system when you drive by .03%, as California’s current limit is .08%.

This idea to lower the legal blood alcohol level to .05% came after the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine released a report recommending lowering the drunken-driving threshold from .08% to .05%. This recommendation was made in hopes that it will reduce the number of alcohol-impaired deaths that occur each year in America. “Driving under the influence is blamed for some 10,000 deaths a year…Each day, 29 people in the U.S. die in alcohol-related crashes. Forty-percent of those killed are not the drunken driver.”

Many supporters of this bill believe it is necessary because “current blood alcohol content (BAC) is too high and leaves more drivers impaired, which results in more deadly crashes.” Studies show that for a driver with a blood alcohol level of .05%-.079% “the risk of being in a fatal crash is at least seven times higher than for drivers with no alcohol in their system.”

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day – Enjoy Responsibly

March 17, 2014 | by Robert Walch

In our Los Angeles personal injury law practice, we help many victims of accidents involving intoxicated drivers. We know that many people will be celebrating St. Patrick’s day with some beer or whiskey. Please remember not to drink and drive. Not only will there be many police checkpoints, but the damages caused by drunk drivers can be catastrophic.

If you are planning on drinking today, make sure you have a designated driver who will stay sober. If not, go somewhere within walking distance or use a ride sharing service like Uber or Lyft. They can usually pick you up all over Los Angeles and the prices are very reasonable.

Please make sure not to be a drunk driving statistic and have a happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Warning – 4th of July Deadliest Day for Los Angeles Car Accidents

July 3, 2012 | by Robert Walch

According to the Los Angeles Times, the 4th of July holiday is the deadliest day for Los Angeles car accidents. AAA reports that teens account for approximately 10% of the traffic fatalities on Independence Day. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) cites that a drunk driver is involved in 39% of the car accident deaths on the 4th of July. This compares to 31% of car accident fatalities on other days.

The rise in drunk driving accidents on the 4th of July is partly due to the fact that schools and most businesses are closed, so there are more people on the road. This, combined with the many 4th of July parties around Los Angeles, often involving large amounts of alcohol, contributes to many Los Angeles car accidents.

It is also important to note that many police agencies around California will be setting up DUI checkpoints, to try to catch drunk drivers before they cause a Los Angeles car accident.

St. Patrick’s Day – Los Angeles Car Accident Warning

March 16, 2012 | by Robert Walch

This Saturday is Saint Patrick’s Day, a holiday recognizing Saint Patrick, a patron saint of Ireland. As the holiday is often associated with the lifting of restrictions on drinking alcohol, this is a day that many people will be drinking throughout Los Angeles County. This holiday, combined with the rain showers that are expected throughout the weekend, can lead to heightened car accident dangers on the roads.

We at Gary K. Walch, A Law Corporation, wish to remind our readers to be extra cautious when driving this weekend. As with most holiday weekends, there will be people drinking and driving. It is important to remember that no matter how short the trip, or how costly the transportation, never drink and drive. If you plan on drinking, make sure you have a designated driver or can arrange for a taxi or other transportation. The cost of a taxi is always cheaper than a DUI arrest or, even worse, a drunk driving car accident.

If you are intoxicated and cause a Los Angeles car accident, not only will you be financially responsible for any personal injuries you cause, you may also be subject to criminal liability, which may include jail or prison time. It is anticipated that the Los Angeles Police Department will set up checkpoints throughout the city to try to preemptively stop drunk drivers, before they cause a car accident in Los Angeles.

Woodland Hills Man Arrested After Malibu Car Accident Injuries

August 27, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A Woodland Hills man was arrested early Saturday morning after allegedly causing a Malibu car accident. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Malibu accident happened on Pacific Coast Highway, after two L.A. County Sheriff deputies had just returned to their squad car from a sweep of the beach. Once in the car, the man, Mark Liebrecht, who was arrested for driving under the influence, apparently rear ended the stopped police car and pushed it down an embankment and into the ocean.

The car accident in Malibu resulted in injuries to the two sheriff deputies, who were rescued by fire personnel. The Malibu rear end car accident injuries included a serious lumbar injury to one of the officers, while the other officer sustained a shoulder injury as well as an injured clavicle.

Warning: Drunk Driving Checkpoints Set Up to Prevent Los Angeles Accidents

August 19, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Starting this weekend, the Los Angeles Police Department, in an effort to prevent Los Angeles drunk driving accidents and injuries, will be setting up checkpoints throughout the city. The checkpoints, designed to catch drunk drivers before they are in a Los Angeles car accident, will be up from 8pm until 2am and this particular program will go through the Labor Day extended weekend.

According to the Los Angeles Times, there will be 100 police agencies involved and the checkpoints will be spread out throughout the Los Angeles area.

The L.A. Times cites the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which provides that in 2009, there were 10,839 accident deaths in car and motorcycle accidents where a driver was legally intoxicated. The most common age group for these fatalities was 21 through 24 years old.

4.9 Million Dollar Judgment for Hilton Malibu Car Accident

July 16, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A personal injury judgment of 4.9 million dollars has been awarded against Barron Hilton, the brother of Paris Hilton, for causing a Malibu car accident. The judgment orders Mr. Hilton to pay 4.6 million dollars for pain and suffering to a gas station employee who was struck by Mr. Hilton’s vehicle, allegedly while Hilton was driving drunk.

According to reports, Mr. Hilton was driving erratically in Malibu, including on the wrong side of the road on Pacific Coast Highway, before pulling into a gas station where he struck Fernando Tellez with his Mercedez-Benz. Mr. Hilton’s blood alcohol level at the time of the car accident in Malibu was .14%, which is significantly above the .08% limit in California.

Due to the circumstances, Mr. Hilton was ordered to pay $225,000.00 in punitive damages to Mr. Tellez, as well as $71,000.00 for interest on the damages. With payment for past medical bills and loss of earnings, the total judgment amounts to $4,600,000.00.

18 Years in Prison for Long Beach Drag Race Wrongful Death Accident

June 4, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Denis Alberto Reyes has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for causing a Long Beach Wrongful Death Accident that killed four people. Reyes, who was driving a stolen car, was apparently involved in a drag race with a Mustang, when the two vehicles collided.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Long Beach accident caused the ejection from the vehicle of the driver of the Mustang and two passengers. All three died from the Long Beach car accident, as well as another passenger who died later at a hospital.

Reyes, who was 17 at the time, and fled the scene of the car accident in Long Beach, was later arrested. He pled no contest to four counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, one count of car theft and hit and run causing death.