[03-08-2025] San Diego County, CA – Woman Killed After DUI Hit-And-Run Crash in National City

A 54-year-old woman was killed after a DUI hit-and-run crash in National City early Saturday morning, March 8, 2025.

According to the National City Police Department, officers were dispatched at approximately 2:12 a.m. to the 1600 block of East Plaza Boulevard after reports of a person lying in the street.

Authorities arrived to find the woman unresponsive in the center divider. Despite efforts from police, firefighters, and paramedics, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses and roadway debris led officers to determine that the woman had been struck by a vehicle that fled the scene.

A witness guided officers to the 600 block of East 18th Street, where they located a damaged vehicle consistent with a pedestrian collision.

The suspected driver, identified as 27-year-old Jamal L., was arrested and booked into county jail on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter, DUI causing death or great bodily injury, and felony hit-and-run.

The victim’s identity has not yet been released pending family notification.

The investigation is ongoing.

Seek Legal Guidance from Experienced DUI Accident Lawyers in National City, CA

A DUI accident can have devastating consequences, leaving victims with serious injuries, emotional trauma, and financial hardships. When a reckless driver causes harm, they are legally responsible for covering medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. However, pursuing fair compensation can be difficult without experienced legal representation—that’s where we come in.

Led by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., our DUI accident lawyers are ready to evaluate your case, outline your legal options, and assist in obtaining critical documents such as police reports and medical records to strengthen your claim.

Our National City DUI accident attorneys are dedicated to protecting your rights and maximizing your compensation. With over $500 million recovered for injury victims, Arash Law is recognized as one of California’s top personal injury firms.

Call (888) 488-1391 today or fill out our “Do I Have a Case?” form to schedule a free consultation and get the legal support you deserve.

What To Do After Being A Victim Of A DUI Accident

Anything you do immediately after being a victim in a DUI accident can significantly affect your physical and financial recovery. Follow these steps to protect your well-being and legal rights:

1. Stay calm and move to a safer area if you can. Assess your condition before checking other people involved.
2. Call 911 immediately so paramedics and local authorities can respond to the scene. This can also quickly alert nearby officers if the impaired driver is trying to commit a hit-and-run.
3. Don’t engage with the intoxicated or drugged driver. Their behavior may be unpredictable; let the police handle the situation with them.
4. If you’re able, take photos and videos of the scene. Capture the scene from different angles and highlight important details like visible injuries, property damage, road marks, debris from the accident, etc.
5. Politely request any witnesses to provide statements to the police. Ask for their phone number, as well, in case you need to contact them later.
6. Seek a thorough medical evaluation, even if you feel fine. Some injuries might not show symptoms immediately.
7. Consult our lawyers in National City for DUI accident victims. The sooner you get legal representation, the better. Our attorneys can work immediately to protect your rights and preserve evidence.

I HAD AN ACCIDENT

DUI Accident Statistics

According to the NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis, in 2020, there were 11,654 fatalities resulting from motor vehicle traffic crashes involving at least one alcohol-impaired driver, accounting for 30% of all traffic fatalities in the United States that year. This marked a 14.3 percent increase in fatalities due to alcohol-impaired driving, rising from 10,196 in 2019 to 11,654 in 2020.

On average, one fatality related to alcohol-impaired driving occurred every 45 minutes. The age groups of 21 to 24 years and 25 to 34 years had the highest percentages of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes, with each group representing 26 percent of such incidents in 2020.

The highest percentage of alcohol-impaired drivers in fatal crashes was among motorcycle riders at 27%, followed by drivers of passenger cars at 23%, light trucks at 19%, and large trucks at 3%. Among the 1,093 traffic fatalities in 2020 involving children aged 14 and younger, 21 percent (229 fatalities) occurred in crashes involving alcohol-impaired driving.

Additionally, 67 percent (7,831) of the 11,654 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities involved crashes where at least one driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of.15 g/dL or higher. Notably, the rate of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes was 3.1 times higher at night compared to during the day in 2020.