[03-26-2022] San Bernardino County, CA – 39-Year-Old Man Killed in Fatal DUI Crash Involving Driver on Probation on I-15

According to authorities, Johnathan P., 31, was arrested after a collision on Interstate 15 that killed a 39-year-old Compton man identified as Raul G. on Saturday, March 26, 2022.

The California Highway Patrol was called to the scene around 3:00 a.m. on I-15, south of Halloran Springs Road.

According to the agency, Pryor was driving a Dodge Charger in the No. 1 lane on the southbound I-15 at a high rate of speed.

He collided with the back of Gontes’ Chevrolet Tahoe, causing it to overturn and cross the median that separates the southbound and northbound lanes.

Gontes was pronounced dead at the crash scene on the highway northeast of Baker by emergency personnel.

According to court records, Pryor, suspected of causing a fatal crash while intoxicated, was on probation for a separate DUI charge at the time of his alleged crime.

Officers from the California Highway Patrol arrested Pryor for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI causing bodily injury. He was supposed to appear in court on Tuesday, but it’s unclear whether or not that happened.

The same day, Pryor was released. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, he was being held in jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.

According to court records, Pryor was on misdemeanor probation at the time of the crash after pleading no contest to a DUI charge in August 2021.

Authorities said Pryor exhibited objective signs/symptoms of alcohol impairment when he met with a CHP officer.

Pryor was arrested after the officer completed a DUI evaluation. According to CHP officials, alcohol was suspected to be a contributing factor in the crash.

The CHP is still investigating the crash.

Fatal DUI Accident Statistics

It is extremely dangerous for any driver to get behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. They endanger their own lives and the lives of everyone else on the road.

People’s lives can be changed forever if they are involved in a car accident while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It’s unfortunate that the number of drunk driving accidents in the United States has increased.

30-a-day deaths from alcohol-related vehicular accidents are estimated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Twenty-nine percent of all motor vehicle accident deaths in the United States are caused by drunk driving.

In 2016, 28 percent of all traffic-related deaths in the United States were caused by alcohol-impaired driving. Over 17% of the 1,233 traffic-related deaths for children aged zero to fourteen years old in 2016 occurred because of drunken driving.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) reports that California had nearly 1,000 DUI-related deaths last year. Drunk driving has resulted in hundreds of thousands of accidental deaths and injuries.

San Bernardino County DUI Accident Lawyer

Victims of DUI accidents are entitled to financial compensation. Our San Bernardino County DUI accident lawyers at Arash Law are here to help injured plaintiffs maximize their compensation so that they can pay their medical bills and assist their families financially.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver in California, do not hesitate to contact our legal team.

Family members of the deceased have the right to file a wrongful death claim in order to receive the compensation they deserve, even though they cannot bring their loved ones back from the dead.

In a wrongful death claim, the deceased’s family can seek compensation for funeral costs, lost wages and companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.

Our car accident lawyers will handle your wrongful death lawsuit at our firm. Call Arash Law at (888) 488-1391 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.