[03-28-2023] Shasta County, CA – Juvenile Passenger Seriously Injured After DUI Driver Crashed into Caltrans Truck

A juvenile passenger was seriously injured after a drunk driver crashed into a Caltrans truck in Shasta County early Tuesday morning, March 28, 2023.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the DUI crash occurred shortly after midnight on the northbound Interstate 5 Freeway at the Fawndale exit, 10 miles north of Redding.

The driver was reportedly driving a Tesla with the juvenile passenger at high speed when it rear-ended a Caltrans attenuator truck set up to protect the roadside workers performing chain control screening at that time.

Both the driver and the juvenile passenger sustained major injuries and were taken to the hospital in unknown conditions. There were no other recorded injuries.

The driver was detained on suspicion of driving under the influence and child endangerment. No other information on their identity was available.

I-5’s northbound lanes were shut down following the crash. It was later reopened before 1:00 a.m.

DUI Accident Statistics

Drunk driving was responsible for the deaths of 10,142 individuals in 2019. There were 949 deaths in California attributed to drunk driving that year or 2.4 deaths per every 100,000 residents. Around the country, the average was 3.1 cases for every 100,000 people.

As compared to other states, California has one of the highest rates of alcohol-related vehicle accident fatalities, at 26.3% (the national average is 28.1%).

Although another study showed a decline in drunk driving-related fatalities and accidents in the 1980s, thousands of impaired drivers are still out there today, posing a threat to themselves, other drivers, and law enforcement.

In California, the legal limit for blood alcohol content is 0.08 percent. Drunk drivers endanger other motorists and pedestrians because of impaired judgment and reaction time.

What to Do After a DUI Accident

Immediately report any car accident involving a DUI driver to the authorities. It’s important to answer questions precisely and not assume anything while communicating with law enforcement or an insurance company. Some victims may try to apologize, even though they are completely innocent. An insurance company might reject a claim if the victim takes such actions.

Get in touch with the appropriate authorities if you’d like a copy of the full report. An online form is provided here for your convenience. As soon as we obtain the specifics of your case, we can begin working on it. Our well-known attorneys will provide you with their undivided attention during the no-cost initial session.

DUI Accident Lawyers for Victims in Shasta County

Victims of drunk drivers in California have access to the state’s civil court system. Please get in touch with us if you or someone you care about needs assistance submitting an insurance claim following a recent injury or death.

During your free consultation, one of our competent attorneys will evaluate your case, outline the next stages, and explain how various circumstances might affect the final settlement amount.

Our trusted Shasta 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.