The California Highway Patrol reported that a Sacramento County man was killed on March 20 when a 19-year-old man struck his vehicle. The accident happened shortly after 10 p.m. on Elkhorn Boulevard.
Reportedly, the 19-year-old man was driving on a sidewalk. He allegedly passed a sheriff’s patrol vehicle, speeding away and failing to stop. Law enforcement authorities stated the 19-year-old ran a red light at Elkhorn Boulevard, crashing into the victim’s Chevrolet Malibu. The Malibu’s driver was killed on impact. Another person in his car was injured. The 19-year-old suffered injuries deemed as minor by the police.
The 19-year-old is now facing multiple charges, including driving while under the influence of alcohol and drugs, evading law enforcement and vehicular manslaughter. The victim left three daughters, including one that is only a year old. It is unknown what his blood alcohol and drug concentration results might have been.
When a drunk or drugged driver is the cause of a fatal motor vehicle accident, the decedent’s surviving family members are often left dealing not only with the shock of their loved one’s loss but with significant and unexpected financial burdens as well. This can be particularly the case where the person who was killed was the main contributor to household finances. In many such cases, a personal injury attorney can assist in preparing and filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent driver. Damages that are often sought can include funeral and burial expenses, loss of contributions and other amounts allowed by statute. Such a suit can be successful even if no criminal charges are filed against the motorist.
Source: Fox 40, “Daughter of man killed in Sunday night crash speaks out,” Rina Nakano, March 21, 2016