California man charged after fatal pedestrian accident

The California Highway Patrol has reported that a 23-year-old man was taken into custody on Feb. 16 following a motor vehicle accident that claimed the life of a pedestrian in Los Angeles County. Media reports indicate that the Hacienda Heights man is a facing felony DUI charge, and his bail has been set at $100,000. Police believe that the man was driving under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident.

According to a CHP report, the pedestrian accident took place at approximately 7:00 p.m. in Rowland Heights. Officers say that the man was traveling northbound on Batson Avenue when his vehicle struck a woman in the vicinity of Colima Road. First responders arriving at the scene rushed the badly injured woman to a nearby trauma center for treatment, but she was subsequently pronounced dead. Police did not immediately release the name of the victim.

Police say that the driver remained at the scene, and he was taken into custody when responding officers determined that he was impaired by drugs of some kind. However, media reports do not indicate what led police officers to come to this conclusion. In California, motorists may face felony DUI charges when negligent driving or traffic violations lead to accidents that result in serious injury or death.

The families of those killed by negligent drivers may pursue civil remedies, but this may be challenging when the individuals responsible are killed or face lengthy periods of incarceration. In these situations, personal injury attorneys may initiate wrongful death lawsuits against the estates or insurance companies of the individuals concerned. This kind of litigation may seek compensation for funeral expenses, medical bills and lost income.

Source: The Whittier Daily News, Woman killed while crossing street in Rowland Heights, driver accused of DUI, Brian Day, Feb. 17, 2016