[02-21-2023] Del Norte County, CA – Two People, Including a Minor, Injured After DUI Driver Crashed into House in Crescent City

Two people, one a minor, were injured after a male drunk driver crashed their car into a vacant house in Crescent City on Tuesday night, February 21, 2023.

According to the Crescent City Police Department, the DUI single-vehicle crash occurred around 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of 9th Street and L Street at U.S. 101.

Forest F., 21, of Crescent City, was traveling south on U.S. 101 at roughly 70 mph when he passed by a California Highway Patrol officer close to the Del Norte County Fairgrounds. By the time the CHP officer turned around to try to pull him over, the driver had already smashed into the house.

The impact of the collision forced the structure a few inches away from its foundation. The car was left there since it wasn’t safe to pull it out of the house at that time.

Two other occupants, a 20-year-old and a 17-year-old, were sent to the hospital with minor injuries after they remained on the scene. The driver allegedly fled the scene and was later found two blocks away.

The investigation led the authorities to believe the driver was under the influence, with a blood alcohol content of over .20, twice the legal limit.

The driver faces multiple charges, including DUI causing bodily injury and willful cruelty of a child resulting in possible injury or death, as he allegedly persuaded the 17-year-old passenger into going with him.

DUI Accident Statistics

In 2019, 10,142 people were killed on American roads due to alcohol and drunk driving. In the same year in California, there were 949 deaths associated with DUI, for a rate of 2.4 per 100,000 people. The national rate across the United States was 3.1. In the whole country, drunk driving played a role in 28.1% of all fatalities, while in California, it was a factor in 26.3%.

Yet another study reveals that while the percentage of drunk drivers has dropped since the 1980s, the toll in terms of lives lost and injuries sustained due to drunk driving remains much too high up to these days.

In the Golden State of California, if your BAC is 0.08 or over, you will be taken into custody. As alcohol impairs judgment and reaction time, drunk drivers are a danger to other motorists and pedestrians.

What to Do After a DUI Accident

Get in touch with emergency services at once if you or a loved one are involved in a DUI accident. Whether communicating with law enforcement or an insurance company, it is imperative to be factual and avoid making any assumptions. Some victims may blame themselves even though they were innocent. This behavior could result in the insurance company refusing to pay out.

In order to receive a copy of the final report, a formal request must be sent to the appropriate authorities. Here in this site, for your ease, is a brief online form for your use. As soon as we have the report, we’ll start working on your request. If you have concerns about making the most of your insurance coverage, our highly renowned attorney is available for a no-obligation consultation.

DUI Accident Lawyers for Victims in Del Norte County

Victims of injuries caused by drunk drivers in California can seek compensation through civil litigation. If you or a loved one has just been wounded and needs help negotiating a settlement with an insurance company, please get in contact with us.

Our trusted Del Norte 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 $500 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.