[02-14-2023] Kern County, CA – One Killed, Another Injured by DUI Driver in Two-Car Crash near McFarland

A female driver was killed and her passenger was injured in a two-vehicle head-on collision by a DUI driver east of McFarland, Kern County, on Tuesday morning, February 14, 2023.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the fatal crash occurred early morning at about 3:50 a.m. along Highway 65 or Porterville Highway, north of Famoso Road, near the Famoso Dragstrip.

52-year-old Porterville resident William P. was reportedly traveling north on the highway in a 2022 Ram at 55 mph while a 53-year-old woman from Bakersfield was traveling south in a Toyota, approaching the Ram at an unidentified speed.

The Ram let his car veer to the southbound lane, crossing the solid double yellow line and right into the path of the Toyota. The two vehicles collided head-on, resulting in major damage to both cars. The Ram went on north out of control, rolling over several times.

The woman driving the Toyota was killed. Her passenger was transported to Kern Medical after sustaining moderate injuries. No further details were immediately available on their identities and the injured passenger’s current condition.

The driver of the Ram also suffered minor wounds. He was detained on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and was arrested for DUI along with other charges.

Fatal Drunk Driving Accident Statistics

Drunk driving was responsible for 10,142 deaths in the United States in 2019, 949 of which occurred in California. The rate in California was 2.4% per 100,000 people and the national average was 3.1%. Drunk driving was a factor in 26.3% of all traffic fatalities in the state in 2014 (and 28.1 percent nationwide).

A second analysis finds that while the rate of drunk driving and the number of deaths associated with it have declined since the 1980s, millions of intoxicated drivers continue to cause problems on the roads each year. The legal limit for drivers in California is 0.08 percent blood alcohol content (BAC).

What to Do After a Drunk Driving Accident

If you’ve been in an automobile crash due to a DUI driver, don’t hesitate to call the police. Always give the authorities the correct information when responding to their inquiries and avoid making assumptions. Victims may apologize even if they did not contribute to the problem. An insurer may consider this sort of conduct as grounds to deny a claim.

The report can be obtained by making a formal request to the relevant authorities. If you’d rather submit your request, you can do so by filling out the form on our website. We will start working on your claim as soon as we get it. Don’t wait to get in contact with us if you want a risk-free, no-cost evaluation of your claim.

Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers for Victims in Kern County

Personal injury and wrongful death suits can be filed in California on behalf of persons hurt or killed due to a drunk motorist. If you or a loved one has just been injured or killed and you need help negotiating a reasonable settlement offer with the insurance company, please get in touch with us as soon as possible.

Our trusted Kern County drunk driving accident victim lawyers at Arash Law, led by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., have extensive experience advocating for accident victims, with awarded compensation totaling $750 million. Call (888) 488-1391 now or click the “Do I Have a Case?” on our website to set up a free consultation with one of our attorneys.