[08-01-2022] Santa Cruz County, CA – Suspected DUI Driver Endangered Child Passenger After Driving Recklessly in Watsonville

A Watsonville man was arrested on suspicion of DUI and a hit-and-run crash injuring his child passenger after Watsonville police caught up with him near his heavily damaged car in Watsonville on August 1, 2022.

According to the Watsonville Police Department, Sgt. Charles Bailey, the crash occurred around 2:30 p.m. at the corner of Prospect Street and Freedom Boulevard.

A stop sign, a curb, and the right front tire and wheel of the unidentified driver’s black Jaguar sedan were all damaged.

After backing up, the driver took off on three wheels while towing a young girl, traveling south on Lincoln Street toward downtown and leaving heavy tire tracks in the asphalt in his wake.

The suspect fled on foot after leaving the car with a caved-in windshield and a damaged front end with the child still inside. A short while later, police located him on West Fifth Street and arrested him.

The inquiry is still ongoing. The Jaguar was considered a total loss.

DUI Accident Statistics

Traffic accidents can have devastating effects on pedestrians in particular. They are the most exposed because they have no safeguards in place.

The number of pedestrian fatalities in the US has significantly increased recently. Between 2007 and 2016, pedestrian fatalities rose by 27%, while traffic-related fatalities fell by 14%.

This drunk driver had a legal duty to help the pedestrian, but he chose not to while driving under alcohol. It is forbidden to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Sadly, there are a lot of drunk driving accidents in this country.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drunk driving accidents claim the lives of about 30 people daily. In the US, drunk drivers are to blame for most fatal auto accidents. 60% of these drivers had blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) over the legal limit.

Santa Cruz County DUI Accident Lawyers for Injured Victims

When a pedestrian is hit by a car, it is extremely uncommon for them to recover and return to normal activities fully. If you’ve been injured in a car accident in California, you have the legal right to sue for damages from the party at fault.

You may be able to sue for damages caused by the other driver’s negligence, depending on the circumstances. Long recovery times and high medical bills can result from an accident like this.

Our Santa Cruz County DUI accident victims lawyers at Arash Law are here to help if you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver. Drunk drivers must be held accountable for their careless and often fatal actions.

Compensation should be given to those who have been injured in DUI accidents. The goal of a law firm is to help people who have been injured get the money they need to pay their medical bills and keep their families fed.

Our legal team is ready to assist you if you or a loved one has been hurt in a California drunk driving accident. Please contact us at (888) 488-1391 or use our online intake form to arrange a free consultation with one of our experienced lawyers.