[09-30-2022] Merced County, CA – Four People Injured in Suspected DUI Head-On Crash in Merced

According to the police, four people, including two minors, were injured in a suspected DUI collision on Friday morning, September 30, 2022.

According to a post on social media by the Merced Police Department, officers and other emergency personnel responded at 10:04 a.m. to a head-on collision in the 300 block of South Parsons Avenue close to the Grove Apartments.

Police say Merced resident Patricia G., 24, was operating a 1989 Chevy pickup truck south on South Parsons while allegedly under the influence of fentanyl.

Garrett made a U-turn into oncoming traffic and collided with a 2009 white Dodge Charger being driven north by a 41-year-old man.

Three occupants in the Charger were transported to nearby hospitals after suffering serious injuries.

In addition to being hospitalized, Garrett was arrested for DUI causing injury and other charges.

According to jail records, Garrett’s bond was set at $162,191.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Traffic Officer M. Calcagno at 209-388-7718 or calcagnom@cityofmerced.org, according to Merced police.

DUI Accident Statistics

Traveling on roads free from harm is a basic human right. The lives of others are put in danger when drunk drivers take to the roads. Nationally, strict laws have been enacted to reduce the number of people caught driving while intoxicated.

Intoxicated driving is careless behavior. Any motorist who drinks alcohol and then gets behind the wheel threatens the lives of everyone else on the road.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that about 10,000 people lost their lives due to driving under the influence over the course of a year. Approximately 18% of fatal car accidents are caused by alcohol or other drugs.

Each year in California, over 2,000 people lose their lives, and over 30,000 are injured due to car accidents exacerbated by alcohol or drugs. DUI and DWI (driving while intoxicated) blood alcohol content (BAC) criteria in the state vary by driver age and whether the vehicle is private or commercial.

Drunk drivers often have difficulty seeing, making good decisions, and reacting appropriately in potentially hazardous situations. Drunk drivers pose an especially high risk to other motorists and pedestrians on the most dangerous roads in California because their faculties are impaired while negotiating these hazards.

Merced County DUI Accident Victims Lawyers

Rarely does a pedestrian who has been hit by a car make a full recovery and return to normal life shortly after the accident. As a result, if you’ve been hurt in a car accident in California, you have protections under the state’s personal injury law.

You may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent driver if their actions caused the accident that injured you. Consequences such as lost wages, extended periods of recovery, and high medical bills are all things victims of accidents like these often have to deal with.

Our Merced County DUI accident lawyers at Arash Law are influential, aggressive advocates for DUI accident victims. Drunk drivers must face the consequences of their reckless actions. Victims of accidents caused by drunk driving should be held accountable.

Our legal practice is devoted to ensuring that our clients receive the maximum compensation possible following an accident, allowing them to take care of their families and cover medical expenses. Don’t hesitate to contact our legal team at (888) 488-1391 if you or a loved one has been hurt in a drunk driving accident in California.