Residents of Chico, California, likely remember the recent crash involving students at Chico State. The single vehicle crash killed two passengers and severely injured the young man behind the wheel of the car. At the time of the fatal accident the three occupants of the vehicle, all of whom were under the age of 21, had alcohol in their blood, though the level was below what is generally considered to be too impaired to drive. In addition, a toxicology report revealed the driver also had marijuana in his system. He was the only person who survived the crash, though with serious injuries.
The incident occurred in the early morning hours of one day late in January. When the driver of the vehicle in which they were riding was unable to keep the car on the road when it curved, the car left the road. It landed upside down in a creek bed.
Though the driver of the vehicle is still in the hospital it is likely that at a minimum he will be charged with manslaughter. Civil actions could be filed against him as well, should the families of the college students who died decide to file wrongful death lawsuits against the driver. These cases are possible when the negligence of another person is to blame for the death.
There is no question filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the friend of one’s child is a difficult thing to do. Nonetheless, in some situations it may be the best option. Working with a lawyer one feels comfortable with can go a long way toward making the process easier.
Source: Chico Enterprise-Record, “Alcohol, pot present in system of Chico State student accused of deadly DUI crash,” Almendra Carpizo, March 6, 2014
